Japanese missing boy Yamato Tanooka found alive in Hokkaido

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-36441612

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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 near Shikabe town in northern Hokkaido, not far from where he was last seen on Saturday.

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 for checks.

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 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.

Local media say he is believed to have been sheltering there since Saturday night.

The boy was found by an SDF official on a drill, a police spokesman told the AFP news agency.

"There was no conspicuous external injury, and the boy introduced himself as Yamato Tanooka," he said.

He looked to be in good health but was taken to hospital by a medical helicopter.

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".

Police have have said the parents could face charges for negligence.