The father of the Japanese boy who went missing in a forest for six days has issued a heartfelt public apology.
Seven-year-old Yamato Tanooka went missing on Saturday after his parents left him in a wooded area of Hokkaido as punishment for throwing rocks at cars and people. The boy was found safe on Friday by a soldier and suffered no serious health risks.
“My excessive behaviour caused my son such pain and inconvenienced so many people,” Takayuki Tanooka said in an emotional speech, “including the people at his school to the people that helped search for him. For that I am deeply sorry.”
More than 180 rescuers and troops were sent to look for Yamato, who was eventually discovered at military base five kilometres from where he disappeared.
“The very first thing I said to my son was, ‘I am so sorry for having caused you so much pain. Daddy is really sorry,’” Tanooka continued, fighting back tears. “We have raised him with love. I admit what we did was excessive. I had no idea it would end up like this. I deeply regret my excessive behaviour, but I did what I thought was best for him.”
The father also added, “We loved him before, but I hope to give him even more attention now,” News.com.au reports.
Since Tanooka’s son made national headlines this week, many people on social media have criticized the parents for abandoning their son. Some even deemed the discipline tactic child abuse.
Now that the seven-year-old has been found, many are calling for the parents to be held accountable for their actions.
Police are now investigating whether or not the parents will be charged with child abandonment, The Sun UK reports.
Creative Discipline Tactics That Actually Work!
Gardening(01 of17)
Open Image ModalApology Letters(02 of17)
Open Image ModalUn-Fashion(03 of17)
Open Image ModalFlat Bangs(04 of17)
Open Image Modal"In the late '80s/early '90s, my two older sisters were obsessed with how high they could tease their bangs and used a ton of hairspray. One of the punishments that my parents used when they would misbehave was taking away hairspray. You would think it was a fate worse than death, having flat hair." (credit:Getty)
Disappointment(05 of17)
Open Image Modal"'I'm very disappointed in your behaviour.' My dad was a therapist. He knew how to discipline without ever raising his voice."
~ Monkeylint (credit:Getty)
Rise And Shine!(06 of17)
Open Image Modal"When I was in high school, my mother would shoot me with cold water from a squirt bottle if I didn't get up right away. It was super effective."
~ sixth_in_line (credit:Getty)
Let's Go!(07 of17)
Open Image Modal"If any of us kids started acting up in a store, my mom would immediately drop what she was intending to buy and head home. This way we learned that going to the store was a privilege, and we couldn't throw temper tantrums or scream in public. She said usually after the second time we learned our lesson and never had another problem again."
~ kaeide (credit:Getty)
Mirror Behaviour(08 of17)
Open Image ModalSibling Rivalry(09 of17)
Open Image Modal"I have an older brother who loved to annoy me. One day I was a bad boy so my parents took away my Game Boy and put my older brother in charge of it for two weeks. The torment was real."
~ futureblackpopstar (credit:Getty)
Confession(10 of17)
Open Image ModalLaughter(11 of17)
Open Image Modal"My mom used to make my brother and I sit on the couch and hold hands when we wouldn't stop fighting. At about the 15-minute mark, you start to feel so ridiculous that you can't stop giggling and you'd make up."
(credit:Getty)
Essay Writing(12 of17)
Open Image ModalMy mother would make me write an essay whenever I screwed up. The essay had to include identifying the incorrect behaviour, why it was incorrect and steps I would take to keep from committing the blunder in the future. When the essay was finished I had to read it aloud in front of the whole family. I hated it, but it worked."
~ Einhander1251 (credit:Getty)
Unhinged(13 of17)
Open Image Modal"They took my door off the hinges. No more smoking out of my window after that." (credit:Getty)
Empty Room(14 of17)
Open Image ModalHide And Seek(15 of17)
Open Image ModalLooong Talks(16 of17)
Open Image Modal"I stole my parenting technique from my dad. My son is off to college, but I never once 'punished' him. If he did something wrong we would talk about it. And talk about it. And talk about it. Until it got through. After a while, I could just give him the eye and say 'do we need to talk about this?' and 'Noooooo not a talk! I'll be good' would be the immediate answer. It's not the easiest method, not at first anyway. But the most effective."
~ BuckminsterJones (credit:Getty)
Teachable Moments(17 of17)
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