Yamato Tanooka abuses charges
Police in Hokkaido have written to child services about possible psychological abuse after Yamato Tanooka was found six days after he was left in the forest by his family, Japanese media reported.
His father Takayuki Tanooka, who publicly apologised for his actions, now faces the prospect of legal action, it was reported.
The pair have received a torrent of abuse for their behaviour since news of their son’s ordeal became public.
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Search for Japanese boy
According to media reports Monday, rescue teams are searching for a seven-year-old boy missing for two days on a mountain range in Japan, after his parents abandoned him “as punishment.”
The boy’s father said he avoided telling the truth because he found it embarrassing to ask for a massive search as a result of his punishment.
“I feel very sorry for my child,” the father told an NTV reporter. “I am so sorry for causing trouble for many people.”
Authorities warn of bears in the area
The rescuers used sniffer dogs and horses to search through overgrown forest and tall bushes, according to NTV.
Mitsuru Wakayama, a spokesman for the nearby town of Nanae, said locals passed through the forest only occasionally.
“Not many people or cars pass by, and it gets totally dark as there are no lights,” Wakayama said. “It’s not surprising to encounter bears anywhere in the area.”
The temperature in the forest dropped to 7 degrees Celsius (45°F) and heavy rain fell overnight, according to the media.
The police were determining whether the boy’s parents should be charged with child abandonment, Kyodo News service reported.
dj/rc (AP, Reuters, AP)