In 2007 Japanese government issued a postage stamp honoring Muthu a resident of Omalur, Salem.

He was honored for the services he rendered to Japanese literature.

The story behind this honor started with the pen friendship between Muthu and Shuzo Matsunaga

In 1980, Shuzo got a chance to read few lines on the ‘Thirukkural’ in a book. He was fascinated about thirukkural and wrote to his pen-friend Shekar, saying he wanted to read more on the work.

Shekar’s father Muthu, an avid lover of Tamil literature, sent Shuzo G.U. Pope’s English translation of the ‘Thirukkural’. That was the starting point of their friendship.

Shuzo translated the ‘Thirukkural’ into Japanese and Muthu persuaded him to introduce Bharathiyar also to the Japanese.

Shuzo gladly agreed and translated “Kuyil Paatu” into Japanese.

The two men continued their friendship via letters for more than 30 years.

And encouraged by his friend, Shuzo translated Manimegalai ,Naaladiyar , Panchathanthira Kathaigal and Voice of Vallalar into Japanese.

The two men also shared about their traditions, festivals etc. with each other via letters. Shuzo has incorporated the information he received from his friend in a book titled “My India as Seen through Letters”.

Shuzo, in turn, sent Muthu English translations of Japanese books. Muthu has translated some of them into Tamil. 

It should be noted, that in the past many years they’ve known each other, Muthu and Shuzo have met only once way back in 1981 when their friendship had just begun.

What a friendship!!!