What Japan's 7-year old survivalist wants to do next

Seven-year-old Yamato Tanooka was met with loud camera flashes and cheers from dozens of people when he appeared outside the hospita in the city of Hakodate on the northern island of Hokkaido. Wearing a baseball gap and a gray jacket over a T-shirt, Yamato waved at the crowd while he holding a greeting card in the shape of an oversized baseball.

Japanese boy found after being abandoned in woods as punishment

When asked what he would like to do, he said he wants to play baseball.

'I am fine," Yamato said when a reporter asked how he is feeling.

Yamato added he would like to go back to school soon and is looking forward to participating in a sports day at his school.

Before leaving the hospital, his father bowed to the cameras and said, "Thank you."

Yamato was found in a military training ground hut on Friday, six days after he was reported missing. Japanese media said the boy experienced only light dehydration and minor bruises on an arm and both of his legs, even though he had not eaten and drunk only water.

Shunsuke Kudo, an assistant section chief for the Hokkaido police department public relations division, said the police were not intending to press charges against his parents for child neglect.

Kudo said the police were considering reporting the case to a children's welfare center.

Miki Kurotatsu with Hakodate Children's Welfare Center declined to comment on whether the center had received a report from the police because it was a private matter.

Takayuki Tanooka, father of 7-year-old boy Yamato Tanooka who went missing on May 28, 2016 after being left behind by his parents, but was later found alive, reacts as he speaks to the media in Hakodate on the northernmost Japanese main 'sland of Hokkaido, Japan, June 3, 2016.

REUTERS

His parents reported Yamato missing on May 29, initially telling police their son disappeared when they were

collecting plants in the forest. Later the father, Takayuki Tanooka, said he had planned to leave Yamato briefly in the forest as punishment because the boy had been throwing rocks at people and cars at a river earlier that day.

The punishment drew public scrutiny, generating debate in Japan over what is considered to be excessive in disciplining children.

Takayuki told reporters after his son was found that he regretted his action.


Response:
This article focuses on the hopes and dreams of a young Japanese boys, and is considered a survivalist. This article portrays the story of a young boy that was left in the woods by his father as punishment, and then was reported missing.  He was then found in a military training ground hut, suffering from light dehydration and minor bruises. While reading this article, I found it odd that they made the report seem so light hearted and enjoyable, where in reality this is a tragic story. This seven year old boy was left in the woods, alone, by his parents as a form of punishment, and then survived for six days on his own. It is amazing how the little boy handles it and is only focused on the positive things he will get to do again, but I find it odd how the story is expressed by CBS news. The writer does mention the possible charges against the parents, but again, nothing seems to have arisen. The father does say that he regrets his actions, and with this inclusion, the author is almost supporting the parents. In continuation, this writer does not focus on the tragic happenings of this child, but rather looks at this situation in a positive light, using the boys hopes and wishes as his focal point.

"Japan Forest Boy Yamato Tanooka Leaves Hospital Says He's "fine" and Wants to Play Baseball." 

CBSNews. CBS Interactive, 7 June 2016. Web. 07 June 2016. <http://www.cbsnews.com/news/japan-forest-boy-yamato-tanooka-leaves-hospital-fine-baseball/>.