A Japanese boy abandoned in dense forest by his parents for being naughty has been found unharmed nearly a week after his disappearance sparked a massive search that kept the nation riveted.
Seven-year-old Yamato Tanooka was discovered on Friday in a building on a military base about 4km from where he disappeared last Saturday after he was left by a road, reportedly to discipline him for throwing stones at cars.
"One of our soldiers was preparing for drills this morning and opened the door of a building on the base and there he was," a member of Japan's Self-Defence Forces told NHK national television.
"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 was taken to hospital for checks but was healthy except for low body temperature and would be kept overnight as a precaution, a doctor told a news conference.
A tearful Takayuki Tanooka, the boy's father, thanked rescuers and apologised for causing trouble.
"We've reflected on what we did and it was really excessive," Tanooka said, his voice shaking.
"We, well, we loved him before but I hope to give him even more attention now," he said.
Yamato's parents first said he disappeared as they foraged for edible plants but later told police they left him by the road to discipline him after he threw stones at people and cars.
They said when they drove back a few minutes later the boy was gone. The area is so remote residents of the region say they rarely go through it.
The boy somehow managed to survive nearly a week in the densely forested area, where night temperatures fell as low as 7 degrees and heavy rain had fallen, despite wearing only a t-shirt and jeans.
Yamato said he "walked through the mountains" until he found the building, which was unlocked. He drank water from a nearby tap and slept on mattresses spread on the floor.
The search for Yamato gripped Japan. At its peak, it involved several hundred shouting rescuers beating through heavy bush, as well as soldiers on motorbikes and police on horseback.
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