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Japanese boy missing in Hokkaido 'found alive' Japanese missing boy Yamato Tanooka found alive in Hokkaido
(35 minutes later)
Japanese rescuers believe they have found the boy who went missing in remote woods last week after being left alone by his parents as a punishment. A boy who went missing in remote woods in Japan after being left alone by his parents as a punishment has been found alive and well.
Seven-year-old Yamato Tanooka was found in military barracks in Shikabe town and was in relatively good health, army officials told Japanese media. Seven-year-old Yamato Tanooka was found in military barracks near Shikabe town in northern Hokkaido, not far from where he was last seen on Saturday.
Japan's NHK network said he had identified himself to the military personnel who found him. Japan's NHK network said his parents, who had admitted briefly abandoning him, had confirmed his identity.
He was given food and drink and has been taken to hospital, said NHK. He was given food and drink and has been taken to hospital for checks.
Yamato's parents initially said he got lost while foraging for vegetables. Search teams including the Self-Defence Forces (SDF) have been combing the remote area, home to brown bears, for a week. But they had found no trace of Yamato and hopes were fading.
But they later admitted they had briefly driven off, leaving him alone as a punishment for throwing stones. When they returned to collect him shortly afterwards, he had disappeared, they said. But shortly before 08:00 on Friday morning (23:00 GMT on Thursday) he was found inside a building at an SDF base only a few kilometres from where he was left.
He was not thought to have any food or water with him was wearing only daytime clothing. Local media say he is believed to have been sheltering there since Saturday night.
Search teams, including the Self-Defence Force (SDF), have been combing the remote area, which is home to brown bears, for a week. The boy was found by an SDF official on a drill, a police spokesman told the AFP news agency.
They had found no trace of him and hopes had been fading.
Officials said he was found by a soldier shortly before 08:00 on Friday morning (23:00 GMT on Thursday).
"A Self-Defence Force official who was on a drill found a boy whose age appeared to be seven," said a police spokesman, quoted by AFP.
"There was no conspicuous external injury, and the boy introduced himself as Yamato Tanooka," he said."There was no conspicuous external injury, and the boy introduced himself as Yamato Tanooka," he said.
SDF spokesman Manabu Takehara told AFP the boy "looked in good health, but he was sent to hospital by medical helicopter". He looked to be in good health but was taken to hospital by a medical helicopter.
The base is only a few kilometres from where Yamato was last seen. Yamato's parents initially said he got lost while foraging for vegetables.
But they later admitted they had driven off, briefly leaving him alone on a mountain road as a punishment for throwing stones. When they returned to collect him shortly afterwards, he had disappeared, they said.
He was not thought to have any food or water with him and was wearing only daytime clothing.
Yamato's father had told Japanese media he was "very sorry" for the child, and "for causing trouble for many people".Yamato's father had told Japanese media he was "very sorry" for the child, and "for causing trouble for many people".
Police have have said the parents could face charges for negligence.Police have have said the parents could face charges for negligence.