Japanese boy who went missing in forest found
YURI KAGEYAMA, Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) — The 7-year-old Japanese boy who went missing nearly a week ago after his parents left him in a forest as punishment was found unharmed Friday, police said, in a case that had set off a nationwide debate about parental disciplining.

The boy, missing since Saturday, was found Friday morning by a soldier in a military drill area on the northernmost main island of Hokkaido. The boy identified himself as Yamato Tanooka (Tah-noh-oh-kah), the name of the boy who went missing, police said.

Kyodo News service reported that the boy told police he had been in the drill area for several days after walking alone in the forest. NHK TV said his parents identified their son, who was taken to a hospital by helicopter for checkups.

The boy suffered some dehydration and was getting an intravenous drop, but besides some minor scratches on his arms and feet, no serious risks to his health were found, a medical doctor who had examined him was quoted as saying by Kyodo.

The drill area where he was found was about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from where he disappeared.

The boy's parents had made him get out of their car as punishment on Saturday, they told Japanese TV news, leaving him in a forest reputed as ridden with bears. When they returned after several minutes, he had vanished.

More than 180 rescuers, including troops, have been searching the area.

The boy's plight riveted the nation, highlighted in daily news, and setting off some soul-searching about appropriate punishment.

Although Japan has a reputation for spoiling children, pampering them and not being strict about manners, the culture also is not as progressive in promoting the individual human rights of children, common in the West, traditionally viewing children almost as property of the family.

Abandonment and child abuse are far more common in Japan than the stereotype of the doting parent and stay-at-home mom would suggest.

The parents reportedly told police they had punished the boy for throwing rocks at people and cars while playing at a river earlier in the day.

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Associated Press Writer Mari Yamaguchi contributed to this report.


-- (c) Associated Press 2016-06-03

That's a reasonably happy ending to a story that looked like it wasn't going to end well.

Agreed, but I'd like the boy's side of the story, before the patents can influence it.

Sent from my SMART_4G_Speedy_5inch using Tapatalk

hey, my keyboard does that, dorry .

That's a reasonably happy ending to a story that looked like it wasn't going to end well.

Agreed, Glad there was a Happy ending to this story. If not, as a parent, how would you live with yourself.

Well at the risk of being deleted , I don't blame the parents . I'll stop here ...

Great happy ending.

Now, send the parents a bill for the 180 people's time and effort. And the helicopter ride.

It's good to see the follow up to this story... and very good that they found the child alive and physically unharmed.

I don't think he'll be throwing any stones at cars for a while... I also suspect his parents will be a little less extreme with his discipline in future.

One thing is for sure... This little fella won't grow up with the little prince syndrome to be a spoilt, full of self importance and entitlement that some kids and young adults display.

That'l teach em not to throw rocks.

Now they need to punish him for running away.

Maybe in a dinghy left at sea.

Pleased to hear this news reported today. Resourceful young lad.

...you should go far.... son....bravo.....

Heartwarming news that he was found alive & safe. I doubt that a soft western kid would have survived for even 1 night. On the other hand, I'm sure that a Thai kid would have done better - probably would have sold the army camp & be living it up on the proceeds.

The should charge his family for the cost of all the resources used to locate the boy.