News / More

Japanese son abandoned in bear-inhabited forest forgives father

Tuesday, 07 June 2016 7:01 AM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 07 June 2016 7:01 AM ]

Takayuki Tanooka, father of Yamato Tanooka, a seven-year-old boy missing since being abandoned in a bear-inhabited forest in northern Japan, speaks to reporters in Hakodate on June 3, 2016. ©AFP

The seven-year-old Japanese boy who was left six nights at a dense bear-inhabited forest by his parents as punishment says he has forgiven his father for making the child go through the torture.

On May 28, young Yamato Tanooka’s angry parents left him by the side of a mountain road on the northern island of Hokkaido to punish him for throwing stones and wooden sticks at cars and people.

Yamato was found alive on Friday morning in a hut on a military drill field, 5.5 kilometers (3.4 miles) away from where he had been abandoned, following days of searching in the brown bears-filled mountainous forest by searchers, including soldiers.

The 44-year-old father, Takayuki Tanooka, said he, his wife and their daughter returned to the spot, where they forced Yamato out of the family car several minutes later, but they did not find him.

“I said to him, ‘Dad made you go though such a hard time. I am sorry,’” the father said.

“And then, my son said, ‘You are a good dad. I forgive you,’” Tanooka further said, choking up.

Yamato had suffered slight dehydration and minor scars on his arms and legs. He had also lost about two kilograms (nearly 4.5 pounds) of weight, down from originally about 22 kilograms (some 48.5 pounds).

This undated handout picture provided by an elementary school of Hokuto city shows Yamato Tanooka, a Japanese child left by his parents in a dense forest as punishment. ©AFP

He was transferred to hospital immediately after he was discovered.

Japanese media reports said on Monday that the local police have reported the case to a child welfare center as possible mental abuse.

The parents had told police their boy went missing while on a family outing but later confessed they lied because they feared social censure and possibly being questioned as abusive parents.

Police said on Tuesday that the parents will not be charged.

“We plan not to regard it as a criminal case,” a Hokkaido police spokesman said, highlighting that it would be referred to social services.

“Considering the factors behind the case, the chances of making it a prosecutable one are extremely slim,” said Toru Numata, an attorney who handles abuse and domestic violence cases.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk