national

10-year-old boy drowns trying to save younger sibling in Saga

48 Comments

A 10-year-old boy died Monday afternoon after plunging into the ocean to save his younger brother who had fallen into the harbor in Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture.

According to police, five children had been playing near a steep drop at the harbor around 5 p.m. when a 4-year-old boy stumbled and fell into the water. His older brother jumped in to save him while emergency officials were called, and although both boys were rescued and rushed to the hospital, the older boy, 10-year-old Akito Arimura, died soon after, police said.

The younger boy was temporarily unconscious but recovered. Akito was to enter 5th grade from Tuesday.

© News reports

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

48 Comments
Login to comment

What a hero! He died to save his young brother! So sad. Where is the parental supervision!? Japanese parents allow their children in such dangerous situations unsupervised! I would never allow kids so young to even be in the ocean let alone a dangerous harbor alone!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I hope there is a special place in the afterlife for this loving and self-sacrificing 10 year old. RIP Akito.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

this is such a tragic story. RIP akito. you are truly a hero!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Stop blaming every incident on parents. Kids have the ability to walk home in Japan with no problem. And there is nothing wrong with that. This was just an unfortunate incident.

If we're talking about "five children playing near a steep drop at the harbor around 5 p.m.", then it stands to reason that the kids aren't just walking home. Where were the parents for all five of the children during this?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Truly Hero.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Now.... where were the guardians that allowed this tomfoolery to go on to begin with?

Stop blaming every incident on parents. Kids have the ability to walk home in Japan with no problem. And there is nothing wrong with that. This was just an unfortunate incident.

It is still good to know that even a 10 year old boy knows how to be a hero even when his life is in danger. May he be remembered.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"Umm... yes, but you have to qualify that. Ask some Japanese collegues if they can swim, and often you are told "I can swim 50 meters", or "I can swim a 100 meters". And then what?"

It is a great point. I taught my kids to float, tread water, side stroke, and scull. Nobody ever teaches those in schools, but they are easy skills and are great for long distance swimming and water survival. Schools teach strokes that are adapted to speed, not endurance. Why not spend 10 minutes to teach little kids to tread water efficiently?

Regarding the story, I think we could all agree that a four year old near deep water with only big brother watching is a risky situation. We might also agree that if the four year old were able to merely tread water, the outcome would have been much different. Too bad this boy had to die to be a hero.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

bicultural:

" All Japanese kids are taught how to swim at school, or so I'm told. "

Umm... yes, but you have to qualify that. Ask some Japanese collegues if they can swim, and often you are told "I can swim 50 meters", or "I can swim a 100 meters". And then what?

RIP brave little boy.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Very sad!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

A hero. RIP...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Swimming is one thing. Playing around near an ocean is another. A four-year old "playing around near a steep harbor at 5 p.m.?" unsupervised? OMG. Where were the supervising adults, practicing Sumo wrestling?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

So sad for the little 10 year old hero. God Bless him and his little brother.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

All Japanese kids are taught how to swim at school, or so I'm told. I don't think they're taught how to save people though. Perhaps that should be part of the program.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I'm with you Aspara - ALL children should learn about water safety from a young age. I started to learn swimming at 4 - and will be teaching my kids at the same age in future. Even the strongest swimmers in the world sometimes drown in surf - even lifesavers - but learning water safety and swimming greatly reduces the risk of such tragedies.

But who knows? Maybe these kids were brought up around water. It's a freak thing sometimes. Incredibly sad story.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

kids and water don't mix.

huh? That's an odd thing to say. I spent half my childhood at the beach, learned to snorkel at 5, bodyboard at 6 and waterski at 9, and am here to tell the tale. Kids and water go perfectly well together provided there is supervision and a certain amount of luck. Would you have all children stay away from water at all times?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I hope the younger brother pulls through okay.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Now THIS kind of thing should make Japanese headlines. What a brave young man, however tragic the result.

Now.... where were the guardians that allowed this tomfoolery to go on to begin with?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Eyeblack at 12:23 PM JST - 6th April Brave boy, stupid and irresponsible parents.

You have no shame, do you? Disgusting.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Tough on the family.....hard for the parents but they should be proud of him....it will take a long time to heal this....hopefully the younger brother will not suffer any ill effects.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Great little boy and loving brother. Too bad the good die so young.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Brought a tear to my eye.

Rest in peace little hero.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

RIP little hero!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

in time the 4 year old would go on to live a life worth living to make his brother who sacrificed his life to save him proud. May he RIP and may his little brother find peace

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The boy was a little hero - his baby brother will always look up to him now. R.I.P.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

We were taught not to jump in, but to search for things to throw in, due to the difficult of saving drowning people and the high likelihood of going down togeter. It seems that this guy managed to save his brother though ;-;

0 ( +0 / -0 )

such a shame, RIP.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

May the Lord have a place in heaven for him and his younger brother.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Little hero. I dont know if his actions saved his brother, but he gave his life to do it. I wish my son, when he is confronted with a situation like this, acts like this boy.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Brave boy, stupid and irresponsible parents.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I think the headline is incorrect. I don't think the boy "tried" to save his brother's life, I think maybe he actually did. He might not have pulled him from the water, but just keeping his head above the water might have given him enough air that it allowed him to be resuscitated later.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Yep, kids and water don't mix. Sad for the family.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

What a heroic act. So sad that this boy lost his life while saving his brother's. Hope the family can pull through this horrible tragedy together.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Wow! He probably didn't even think twice before jumping in to save his little brother. That's awesome, yet so sad. I pray for him, his family, and his little brother. He will have to live with that memory for the rest of his life. I just hope he can keep it positive and remember that his big bro loved him.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The older brother was undeniably heroic, but I hope that counseling is provided for the younger brother and parents because in cases like this not only will the younger brother feel tremendous guilt, but the parents may also (often unconsciously) blame the younger brother for the incident. This family needs a good counselor to help them.

NuckinFutz and missy25 - The parents may well have been there but unable to swim. I learned to swim in some very rough seas and consider myself a strong swimmer, but no matter how strong a swimmer you are mistiming just one wave near a pier or cliff can end up with you being slammed into the rocks and knocked unconscious. Someone who couldn't swim or was a weak swimmer would just have added to the body count by diving in.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

where the hell were the parents??? poor child!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Tragic indeed. But the only positive thing about this situation, is that he saved a life, even cooler, his lil bro. He will be remembered for life for this brave and selfless act.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Damn. True, that. He is a "real" hero.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

My thoughts and prayers are with this family...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

That's what an older brother would do- that is brotherly love and instinct. This is so tragic.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This makes me so sad. People use the word "hero" everyday, but this kid really was one, risking his life to save his little brother. Real respect goes out to Akito Arimura.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

RIP little hero.

And the rest of you, stop the finger-wagging, tut-tutting at a tragic time like this.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The poor family...the fact that they should have been more careful will make it all the worse for them.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This is indeed a sad incident that could have been prevented with a little parental supervision!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

That's so sad :*(

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Poor little boy. Don't play near steep drop offs!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

They announced this right when Discovery was taking off. I was hoping both lads would pull through. Water gets rough by a sea wall and the lads should of been told to get away..... I tell kids to back off or get down all the time. Abunai!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

How terribly sad. Indeed, what a hero. RIP.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Karatsu is 40 min from me. What a hero this kid is. RIP

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites