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Japanese missing boy Yamato Tanooka found alive in Hokkaido Japanese missing boy Yamato Tanooka found alive in Hokkaido
(about 1 hour later)
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. A boy missing in remote woods in Japan since Saturday 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 near Shikabe town in northern Hokkaido, not far from where he was last seen on Saturday. Seven-year-old Yamato Tanooka was found in military barracks near Shikabe in northern Hokkaido, just a few kilometres from where he was left.
Japan's NHK network said his parents, who had admitted briefly abandoning him, had confirmed his identity. His parents initially said he had got lost, but eventually admitted briefly abandoning him for being naughty.
He was given food and drink and has been taken to hospital for checks. His father has apologised to his son and rescuers, saying "we went too far".
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. "My excessive act forced my son to have a painful time," Takayuki Tanooka said in an emotional news briefing outside Hakodate hospital, where his son was taken for checks.
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. "I deeply apologise to people at his school, people in the rescue operation, and everybody for causing them trouble," he said.
Local media say he is believed to have been sheltering there since Saturday night. He also thanked the search teams, and said he had raised his son "full of love until now and I will continue to do so".
The boy was found by an SDF official on a drill, a police spokesman told the AFP news agency. Search teams including the Self-Defence Forces (SDF) have been combing the remote area, home to brown bears, for a week.
"There was no conspicuous external injury, and the boy introduced himself as Yamato Tanooka," he said. They had found no trace of Yamato and hopes were fading.
He looked to be in good health but was taken to hospital by a medical helicopter. But shortly before 08:00 on Friday morning (23:00 GMT on Thursday) he was found inside a building at the SDF base about 4km (2.5 miles) from where he was left.
Yamato's parents initially said he got lost while foraging for vegetables. "One of our soldiers was preparing for drills this morning and opened the door of a building on the base, and there he was," an SDF member told NHK.
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. "When he asked 'are you Yamato?' the boy said yes. Then he said he was hungry, so the soldier gave him some water, bread and rice balls."
NHK said he had told rescuers he "walked through the mountains" until he found the shelter.
He was taken to hospital by a medical helicopter.
The Kyodo news agency said he was slightly dehydrated with minor scratches, but otherwise in good health.
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 earlier. 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.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". Earlier this week, Yamato's father had apologised in the media "for causing trouble for many people".
Police have have said the parents could face charges for negligence. Police have said the parents could face charges for negligence.