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Rescuers search for a 7-year-old boy who is missing in a Japanese forest in Nanae town, on Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan’s four main islands on Monday. He has been missing since late Saturday afternoon after his parents reportedly made him get out of the car as punishment. (Kyodo News via AP)
TOKYO » A 7-year-old boy is missing in a forest in northern Japan after his parents made him get out of their car as punishment for misbehaving.
About 150 rescue workers searched Monday in a wooded area on Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan’s four main islands. The boy, identified as Yamato Tanooka, has been missing since late Saturday afternoon.
Hokkaido police said the parents initially told authorities that their son had disappeared while they were picking wild vegetables, but then admitted they made him get out of the car and then left him behind “as discipline.” Police said the father returned to the site a few minutes later but the boy was gone.
The parents told police that they were punishing the boy for throwing rocks at people and cars while playing at a river earlier in the day, according to Japanese media.
The boy’s father said in an interview with public broadcaster NHK and other TV stations that “I regret what I did to my child.” He said he initially did not tell police the truth because he found it embarrassing to ask for a massive search for what happened as a result of the punishment.
Kyodo News service said police are determining whether the parents should be charged with child abandonment.
Stupidity knows no boundary of any culture or race. Best of luck finding the child alive and well.
well said
May the parents be wiser upon his safe return.
Agree
Remove the boy from the family should he ever be found safe and alive.
Put him in a foster home? That’s going from bad to worse.
sounds fishy…
I hope you are wrong.
Japan Times reported that the boy was throwing rocks at passing cars. I have a gut feeling that something more heinous happened to him.
Another “Peter Boy”…?
Maybe.
Dicipline gone awry? Return to “bushi do” code of conduct cannot be accepted in modern society. Consequences are great.
That’s why it doesn’t exist in modern society.
I certainly hope this young man learned his lesson.
You’re joking right??? These parents are nuts or maybe worse.
Hope he isn’t bear food.