Found! 7-year old Japanese boy left on mountain road as punishment

[Vash01]

I didn't see a thread about this, so here is the article.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/03/asia/japan-missing-boy-found/index.html

Even after taking cultural differences into account, I am stunned by what these parents did to their (misbehaving) child. Leaving a 7 year old at the mercy of nature, even for a short period has to be devastating to the child's psyche and even worse physically. The boy could have died. After 5-6 days of search he was found in a military building, 4 miles from where he was left by his parents. He is still I the hospital, being given intravenous fluids. He is dehydrated and malnourished but otherwise OK.

At least the father realizes (based on the article) that he shouldn't have done what he did. They could have lost their child! Currently no criminal charges have been filed but I think they should be. This is gross negligence by the parents. It put their child's life in serious danger.

He was punished because he was throwing rocks at other cars. Certainly there must be a better way to discipline the child than to abandon him, even with the intention of only a short time? I think there will be psychological scars.

What was even worse than the abandonment, the parents lied and said the child disappeared while they were gathering wild vegetables. Only later he told them the truth (that they had intentionally left him behind as punishment). IMO they have to be held accountable for their actions.

 

[merrywidow]

Shocking & I agree that the parents should be charged with negligence.

 

[Sylvia]

Case of missing boy receives mix of sympathy and criticism from residents, experts:
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/20...cism-japanese-foreign-residents/#.V1G8v5K9KSM

 

[Vash01]

I am not a psychologist but I have seen misbehaving children grow up to become well behaved teens and beyond, without drastic measures like this punishment. Yes, parents do occasionally threaten to leave their children on the road but very few actually carry it out. I don't know if such a punishment actually changes the child's behavior. My gut says no. The change takes place naturally, as part of growing up. JMO of course, and as I said I am not a child psychologist (or a psychologist).

 

[Spun Silver]

I am sure this wasnt intentional, but I wish you hadnt put "Japanese" in the title, @Vash01. It makes it seem as though there is something particularly heinous about Japanese parenting, whereas I feel like I read stories of parental child abuse no less drastic than this all the time, with most of the incidents being In the U.S. That could be because I'm an American reading American media... I have no idea what the stats are around the world. But I dont think this story stands out in any way.

 

[Sylvia]

I am sure this wasnt intentional, but I wish you hadnt put "Japanese" in the title ... But I dont think this story stands out in any way.

But he was a Japanese boy? I would have added "mountain" to road or "Found after missing in the forest for 6 days!" to the thread title for dramatic effect.

ETA:

It's been a big story in the international media this past week: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-36445982

The boy did well to find shelter and fortunately had water from a tap to drink - here are photos that showed where he ended up: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-36441612

"So the Japanese public has spent this past week discussing good and bad parenting, what is acceptable punishment and what is abuse." http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-36441875

 

[Artemis@BC]

I am sure this wasnt intentional, but I wish you hadnt put "Japanese" in the title, @Vash01. It makes it seem as though there is something particularly heinous about Japanese parenting ...

I didn't read it like that at all. Not at all. I'd heard this particular story earlier when the boy was still lost, so it was just an easy identifier to know which boy we were talking about.

 

[Vash01]

I am sure this wasnt intentional, but I wish you hadnt put "Japanese" in the title, @Vash01. It makes it seem as though there is something particularly heinous about Japanese parenting, whereas I feel like I read stories of parental child abuse no less drastic than this all the time, with most of the incidents being In the U.S. That could be because I'm an American reading American media... I have no idea what the stats are around the world. But I dont think this story stands out in any way.

No, it wasn't my intent to bash Japanese parenting. I was simply reporting what was reported. I am well aware of some horrible things being done here in the USA (and in many other countries), but the story was about this Japanese boy. As Artemis correctly pointed out, 'Japanese' was just an identifier.

Sylvia, I am sure there are better titles than the one I used. I personally try avoid giving away everything in the title. I did say in the title that he was found after being left on a mountain road. I purposely used road, rather than mountain because the latter would have created the impression that he was left on top of a mountain.

ETA: I made some changes to the title, as you must have noticed

 

[Vash01]

I do feel sympathy for the parents to an extent. They made a horrible mistake and I am sure they are feeling awful. There was no excuse for lying about it, though they must have felt really ashamed of themselves and scared too. Their lie must have hindered the search in a way. The parents knew exactly where they had left their boy; it's not like he just wandered away while they were totally unaware.

I hope this will be a good lesson for the boy's parents as well as some other parents. Children are precious and fortunately in this case there was a happy ending. I must say that I am impressed with this 7 year old who somehow found a way to survive.

 

[snoopy]

I am sure this wasnt intentional, but I wish you hadnt put "Japanese" in the title, @Vash01. It makes it seem as though there is something particularly heinous about Japanese parenting, whereas I feel like I read stories of parental child abuse no less drastic than this all the time, with most of the incidents being In the U.S. That could be because I'm an American reading American media... I have no idea what the stats are around the world. But I dont think this story stands out in any way.

What a thoughtful comment. If only people were as thoughtful about immigrants, refugees, Muslims, blacks, liberals and urban youth.

 

[Nomad]

I am sure this wasnt intentional, but I wish you hadnt put "Japanese" in the title, @Vash01. It makes it seem as though there is something particularly heinous about Japanese parenting, whereas I feel like I read stories of parental child abuse no less drastic than this all the time, with most of the incidents being In the U.S. That could be because I'm an American reading American media... I have no idea what the stats are around the world. But I dont think this story stands out in any way.

Thank you, Princess Fragile Blossom, for reminding us that nobody should ever say anything which could possibly be offensive to anyone else in any way, shape, or form. Far be it from us to imply anything which might even hint that all people are not equal in every way because we all deserve blue ribbons just for breathing.

 

[Spun Silver]

What a thoughtful comment. If only people were as thoughtful about immigrants, refugees, Muslims, blacks, liberals and urban youth.

They are. That is why newspaper editors bend over backwards to avoid irrelevant references to race, ethnicity, etc. From the Reuters style guide:

Reuters stories should be free of conscious or unconscious racism...

Mention race or ethnicity only when relevant to the understanding of a story. For example, if someone is facing deportation, it is appropriate to give his or her nationality. Similarly, the ethnic origin of a person who receives racial threats or is the target of a racist attack is essential context. Terms of mixed ethnicity take a hyphen: Italian-American.
Take care when reporting crimes and court cases. The race of an accused person is not usually relevant.

http://handbook.reuters.com/?title=R
Of course, sometimes race, ethnicity, etc. are relevant to the story. However in the case of this boy, I do not think it was of headline/thread title significance.

Thank you, Princess Fragile Blossom, for reminding us that nobody should ever say anything which could possibly be offensive to anyone else in any way, shape, or form. Far be it from us to imply anything which might even hint that all people are not equal in every way because we all deserve blue ribbons just for breathing.

Well. You seem like a charmer. Please carry on singling out Japanese people for criticism. I'm sure Japan's skating fans and FSU members will appreciate your incisive intellect.

 

[skategal]

No one is criticizing Japanese people.

We are criticizing one set of parents who happen to be from Japan.

Big difference.

 

[Simone411]

Well. You seem like a charmer. Please carry on singling out Japanese people for criticism. I'm sure Japan's skating fans and FSU members will appreciate your incisive intellect.

Well, I really don't believe that @Nomad has to point out anything. You've already done that for her.

 

[PeterG]

I am sure this wasnt intentional, but I wish you hadnt put "Japanese" in the title, @Vash01. It makes it seem as though there is something particularly heinous about Japanese parenting, whereas I feel like I read stories of parental child abuse no less drastic than this all the time, with most of the incidents being In the U.S. That could be because I'm an American reading American media... I have no idea what the stats are around the world. But I dont think this story stands out in any way.

Some recent threads which pertain to a specific country, but where the country was not spotlighted:

Glee actor indicted for child pornography

10 million pounds of baking flour recalled due to E. coli

Man Bitten By Nine-Foot Python While On Toilet

Blue Bufffalo dog food recall

UCLA Shooting

Most of these are stories specifically about America, but "American" was not used as an identifier. But I don't think it's because people are giving Americans a pass, more that it's assumed that all stories are about America unless otherwise stated?

 

[Prancer]

No one is criticizing Japanese people.

We are criticizing one set of parents who happen to be from Japan.

Big difference.

And one that is so easily understood by most, as well.

 

[Nomad]

...

Well. You seem like a charmer. Please carry on singling out Japanese people for criticism. I'm sure Japan's skating fans and FSU members will appreciate your incisive intellect.

My intellect is just fine, thanks. And my first husband was Japanese. I studied the language and culture throughout our marriage. As for being a "charmer", I totally own that I am a bitch by nature.

 

[Jayar]

Well Praise SHARPIE (our FSU God) for Prancer being the voice of reason. Ugh. I need to go use pound my American head into my Chinese made desk.

 

[Xela M]

This boy was amazing! Like a real life version of "Revenant". These parents were incredibly lucky (and don't deserve such an incredible son!)

As for misbehaving children growing up to be nice adults... I would never have believed it had I not seen this myself with my own eyes. Our next door neighbours' son was an absolutely horrible child - one of those people said was a born criminal. He was a real little terror and his mother would spend her life apologising (or defending him). Anyway, I moved out and went abroad for a few years. When I returned years later with my own kid I couldn't believe my eyes that the nicest and most polite teenager on the street was that same boy who just grew out of his terror-years. True story. I bet there are countless stories like that.

 

[Aussie Willy]

So while it was a very stupid thing to do on the part of the parents, let's be honest, I am sure every parent would totally relate to dealing with a mischievous child in this way, particularly when they are being a brat. Whether they carry it out or not is another thing. My friend had a daughter who would sit on the ground and not move when you took her for a walk. Even if you decided to continue on, she would still on the ground. You ended up having to pick her up and then she would do a dummy spit.

Where my mum lives there is a house where this kid lived and play drums a lot. Really bugged my mum and she was always complaining. Anyway the family moved away and now the kid who has grown up has brought the house and is doing wonderful things to it. Mum said he actually apologised for being annoying and is really nice now.

 

[Xela M]

So while it was a very stupid thing to do on the part of the parents, let's be honest, I am sure every parent would totally relate to dealing with a mischievous child in this way, particularly when they are being a brat. Whether they carry it out or not is another thing. My friend had a daughter who would sit on the ground and not move when you took her for a walk. Even if you decided to continue on, she would still on the ground. You ended up having to pick her up and then she would do a dummy spit.

Where my mum lives there is a house where this kid lived and play drums a lot. Really bugged my mum and she was always complaining. Anyway the family moved away and now the kid who has grown up has brought the house and is doing wonderful things to it. Mum said he actually apologised for being annoying and is really nice now.

Kids can definitely push your buttons and as someone with a short temper I can relate to wanting to wring your kid's neck, BUT there is no way on earth any normal parent would leave a little child alone in deep woods and drive off. That's insane and extremely dangerous! Just like no normal parent would leave their kid in the middle of a motorway. It's dangerous!!!!

 

[Prancer]

So while it was a very stupid thing to do on the part of the parents, let's be honest, I am sure every parent would totally relate to dealing with a mischievous child in this way, particularly when they are being a brat.

I don't think it would ever cross my mind to leave my seven-year-old kid stranded in the woods, no matter how mad I got.

 

[Japanfan]

I can relate to wanting to ring your kid's neck, BUT there is no way on earth any normal parent would leave a little child alone in deep woods and drive off. That's insane and extremely dangerous! Just like no normal parent would leave their kid in the middle of a motorway. It's dangerous!!!!

Yes, it's putting the child's life at risk, which goes far beyond punishment. I do think these parents should be charged with negligence.

 

[Angelskates]

Yes, it's putting the child's life at risk, which goes far beyond punishment. I do think these parents should be charged with negligence.

With what aim? Do you not feel like they have learnt their lesson? Does charging them now help the situation, their family unit, or their son?

Like with many stories that made international headlines, these parents have been threatened and berated online by millions, and I'm sure are terrified to even leave their house, let alone appropriately discipline their son in public for fear of even more judgement. What these parents did was wrong, we all know that, his parents know that. Charging them serves no purpose, unless maybe it's the only way to get them to have parenting classes or counselling. Japan has a very high suicide rate, and like the Chinese, seem to have shaming (or feeling shame) as part of their culture; I would hate for this story to go any further.

 

[screech]

Just because someone has learnt their lesson, doesn't mean that nothing should be done. If someone drives drunk and unintentionally causes damages/injuries, but knows they did something wrong, does that mean that a crime wasn't committed and nothing should be done? Or if someone kidnaps someone, but later returns the kid, apologizing and knowing it's bad, does that mean that they shouldn't be charged with a crime?

So if parents are negligent and could have cost their child it's life, just because they didn't mean for anything to really happen, does that mean that they didn't do something wrong?

IMO they still committed a crime. Also, being cynical, how do we know how sincere their 'learnt lesson' is? These are people who lied about where there child was and only owned up to it later. Their actions took time, money and resources away from other uses.

 

[Japanfan]

With what aim? Do you not feel like they have learnt their lesson? Does charging them now help the situation, their family unit, or their son?

I don't know Japanese law, but would assume that child negligence is a crime. Plenty of people commit crimes that they regret, but those are crimes nonetheless.

One of the deterrents for committing is crime is that the consequence could be punishment. And in this case, the consequence could have been the injury or death of a child. Regardless of whether they subsequently realized they had done wrong, the parents put their child at grave risk.

IMO this is a far more serious matter that some of the other things that parents get in trouble over. There was a woman who was arrested for leaving her child alone in a car for just a few minutes. She had a flight to catch, and knew her toddler would scream the whole way home if he didn't have headphones for his electronic device. She was in a rush to get to the airport and the toddler threw a fit in the car when she tried to take him in to the store. So, she rushed in and out to get the headphones.

She flew home, and was met by police at her front door (someone had phoned in her license number while she was in the store). She was charged, and had to do community service as punishment.

Charging them serves no purpose, unless maybe it's the only way to get them to have parenting classes or counselling. Japan has a very high suicide rate, and like the Chinese, seem to have shaming (or feeling shame) as part of their culture; I would hate for this story to go any further.

Parenting classes would probably be useful to them. And I don't think that shaming excuses their actions.

 

[skategal]

Call me cynical, but after being a parent of a sometimes challenging child, I don't believe that the instinct to abandon your child in a forest just suddenly comes to mind and I don't believe the propensity for abuse of the child will magically disappear just because the parents got a good fright.

My gut tells me that there is a history of psychological and possibly physical abuse in that family that won't stop. At worst, the parents may now feel invincible because they got away with this one and their kid didn't die.

I fear for this child. At a minimum the parents should be investigated as an active child protection case, and yes, charging them with negligence is totally fair and just.

 

[attyfan]

Call me cynical, but after being a parent of a sometimes challenging child, I don't believe that the instinct to abandon your child in a forest just suddenly comes to mind and I don't believe the propensity for abuse of the child will magically disappear just because the parents got a good fright.

My gut tells me that there is a history of psychological and possibly physical abuse in that family that won't stop. At worst, the parents may now feel invincible because they got away with this one and their kid didn't die.

I fear for this child. At a minimum the parents should be investigated as an active child protection case, and yes, charging them with negligence is totally fair and just.

Good point re history! IMO, a thorough investigation is warranted -- at least. Also, does anyone know of Japan has other options -- such as removing the child from the parents' custody -- instead of criminal charges?

 

[Xela M]

In England there has been a flood of child abuse/death cases for some awful reason. In one of them the father had been convicted of shaking his daughter as a baby and causing her serious injuries. The child was removed from the home and placed in foster care. The parents then fought tooth and nail for many years to get the conviction quashed (because they claimed the expert's diagnosis of the baby shake syndrome was ambiguous) and the child returned to them. That's what the court did. A few months later the now 6-year-old girl was dead with horrific head injuries, broken back and shoulder. The parents lied through their teeth and claimed she fell off a chair.

Where there is smoke, there is fire and these Japanese boy's parents should definitely be investigated!! It's not normal behaviour to leave a child in the forest!

 

[michiruwater]

Did they leave him in the woods? I thought they left him on the side of the road and drove off, and then he went into the woods.