The first words of the seven-year-old boy who was left by his parents in bear-infested woods as a punishment have been revealed, as he told rescue officers: “I’m hungry.” Young Yamato Tanooka was found alive and unharmed after nearly a week’s search in which 130 police officers scoured woodland in Hokkaido, Japan.
He was found at a Japanese military base about 2.5 miles from where he disappeared last Saturday after his parents left him by the side of a road to discipline him for throwing stones at cars.After his son was found, the boy’s dad Takayuki Tanooka thanked rescuers. He also apologised for causing trouble. Mr Tanooka said: “We’ve reflected on what we did and it was really excessive.
“We – well, we loved him before, but I hope to give him even more attention now.”
A member of Japan’s Self-Defence Forces said: “One of our soldiers was preparing for drills this morning and opened the door of a building on the base, and there he was.
“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 riceballs.”
Yamato said he had “walked through the mountains” until he found the building, which was unlocked.
He drank water from a nearby faucet and slept on mattresses spread on the floor.