A 7-year-old boy, who has been missing for a week in a forest located in the northern part of Japan, has been found alive and well. He has been reunited with his parents.

According to CNN, Yamato Tanooka was found on Friday morning inside a military exercise field by a Japanese Self-Defense Forces personnel. Yamato, who was left by his parents in the forest as a punishment, told local police that he was able to search for shelter on his first night alone. He said that he had been staying there for days.  

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Tanooka did not suffer any major injuries despite being left alone in the forest inhabited by grizzly bears. According to a doctor who examined him, he can communicate well; but physically, he is showing signs of mild dehydration and malnutrition. The boy also had minor scratches on his arms and legs.

Tanooka's parents said that their son had been throwing stones at cars and people during a family trip to the forest, so they ordered him to get out of the car as a punishment. After driving for about 550 yards, the family returned but could no longer find the boy when they had left him.

The location where Tanooka was left is known for being inhabited by black grizzly bears. The search for the boy required the help of 180 police officers, soldiers and volunteers who scoured the forest for seven days.

The boy's father, Takayuki Tanooka, has expressed regret over the incident, according to The Guardian.  

"The first thing I did was apologize to him for causing such an awful memory for him," he said.  "The first thing I said to him was that I was really sorry. He nodded and said OK, like he understood."

TagsJapan, yamato tanooka, takayuki tanooka