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Bound by Blood, Bridged by Love (Thway)
Journal Kyaw Ma Ma Lay
  • Published: 24 March 2026
  • ISBN: 9789815323696
  • Imprint: PRH SEA
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 336
  • RRP: $36.99

Bound by Blood, Bridged by Love (Thway)

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A moving tale of two siblings discovering family and identity amid the cultural echoes of war-torn pasts

Yumisan, a young Japanese teacher, arrives in Myanmar to teach at the Yangon Institute of Foreign Languages, carrying a deep admiration for Burmese culture and language, which she studied passionately in Japan. Yet, her journey holds a deeper purpose: to reunite with her half-brother, Maung Maung, born from her father’s second marriage in Myanmar after her mother’s death in Japan.

Dreaming of a warm sibling connection, Yumisan’s hopes are shattered when she meets Maung Maung, who harbors a deep resentment toward his Japanese heritage. His childhood was marked by discrimination and suffering tied to his father’s identity as a Japanese military officer. Adopted by U Thet Lwin, a compassionate Burmese language teacher, Maung Maung found a surrogate family but retained his emotional scars and mistrust of his roots.

Yumisan hesitates to reveal her identity, fearing Maung Maung’s rejection. With U Thet Lwin’s guidance, she seeks to bridge the chasm between them, slowly building an understanding despite her brother’s guarded demeanor. As they navigate the weight of their shared history and personal pain, Yumisan’s perseverance and affection become a testament to familial love and resilience.

Will Maung Maung accept Yumisan as his sister? Can their fractured ties heal in the face of mistrust and lingering wounds? Set against the vibrant cultural backdrop of Myanmar, this poignant story explores themes of identity, reconciliation, and the transformative power of compassion and understanding.
  • Published: 24 March 2026
  • ISBN: 9789815323696
  • Imprint: PRH SEA
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 336
  • RRP: $36.99
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About the author

Journal Kyaw Ma Ma Lay

Journal Kyaw Ma Ma Lay (author), often regarded as one of the foremost Burmese writers of the 20th century, authored nearly twenty books along with numerous articles and short stories. Many of her contemporaries, as well as younger writers, recognize her as a literary genius who had a unique gift for transforming everyday events into compelling narratives. Her works reflect the lives, struggles, and aspirations of modern Burmese society, resonating deeply with readers across generations. Ma Ma Lay was also one of Burma’s few prominent female authors during her time, she became the president of the Writers Association in 1948.

Ma Ma Lay won two top Burmese Literary Prizes for Not Out of Hate and A Slow Stream of Thoughts and Burmese Medicine Tales. She passed away in 1982 at the age of sixty-five.


San Shwe Baw (translator) holds a B.A. in English from the Institute of Education, Yangon, Burma, an advanced diploma in English Language Teaching (DELT) from the University of Leeds, U.K., and an M.A. in TESOL from St. Michael's College, U.S.A. He retired slightly over a year and a half ago as an Assistant Professor at the Theodore Maria School of Arts, Assumption University, Thailand, where he served for nearly three decades. Before moving to Thailand in 1994, he spent twelve years as an English tutor at Yangon University and Sittwe College. His English language teaching articles have been published in both Thailand and the United States. San Shwe Baw is the author of five novels: The Astrologer’s Predictions, Enslaved by English, Love by Fate, I Gave My Life for Thee, and A Candle in Darkness. These works have been published by Myat Su Mon Sarpay, Global Ahlin, Myanmar Book Center, Seikku Cho Cho, and Juty Sarpay in Myanmar. His fourth novel, I Gave My Life for Thee, the English translation of the Burmese novel Myay Si Mel Mel Thway Yel Yel, won the prestigious 10th Mekong Literary Award. Additionally, two more books translated from Burmese to English are expected to be published by March this year, further expanding his contributions to multilingual literature.

JKM