‘Naughty’ Japanese boy abandoned in bear-infested forest as punishment leaves hospital… as it emerges his parents WON’T face charges
Smiling Yamato Tanooka, seven, says he wants to go back to school and play baseball
A JAPANESE boy who survived almost a week after being abandoned by his parents in a forest smiles and waves as he leaves hospital today.
Yamato Tanooka, seven, said he wanted to go and play his favourite sport baseball after being given the all clear by medics.
His parents - who have been told they will not face criminal charges - bowed deeply in apology before a bank of photographers.
Yamato, wearing a baseball cap and clutching a paper baseball signed by well-wishers, grinned as he was cheered by dozens of people outside the hospital in Hakodate on the northern island of Hokkaido.
Asked by a journalist what he wanted to do, he shouted, "Baseball!" And on the subject of returning to school, he replied enthusiastically: "I want to go!"
After a few minutes, which included applause from the crowd, his father Takayuki Tanooka ushered him into a van and they drove away.
The plucky youngster captured the world's hearts after he was found sleeping in a army base last week.
His parents had left him alone on a remote mountain road as a punishment for throwing stones.
When they returned five minutes later he had vanished - sparking a huge search by hundreds of police and soldiers.
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Yamato survived for six days on his own in woods that are home to brown bears.
He made his way across tough terrain to an military base around four miles away where he sheltered in one of the unheated huts, drinking from an outside tap and keeping warm with two mattresses.
The boy, who was thirsty and hungry, was found on Friday - six days after he went missing - by three soldiers seeking shelter from a rainstorm.
Though he had no food and drank only water during the ordeal, doctors said Yamato only had mild dehydration and minor bruises on an arm and his legs.
His case sparked widespread anger in Japan at the parents' excessive punishment.
However, today police said they would not be charged with child neglect. Instead the case is likely to be referred to social services.
Mr Tanooka, 44, said after his son was found he had apologised to Yamato and the boy had forgiven him.
He told Japanese TV: "I said to him, 'Dad made you go though such a hard time. I am sorry'.
"And then, my son said, 'You are a good dad. I forgive you'."