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14-year-old boy missing since March 19 turns up unharmed

18 Comments

A 14-year-old boy who had been missing since March 19 in Koga, Ibaraki Prefecture, was found unharmed on Tuesday morning.

According to police, the boy was spotted walking along a street by a pedestrian at around 10:30 a.m., Sankei Shimbun reported. His photos had been circulated in the area since he disappeared while shopping with his mother at around 7 p.m. last Thursday night.

Police said the boy was wearing the same clothes as when he disappeared. He was weak from hunger but otherwise unharmed.

Police said the only thing the boy has told them so far is that he spent most of the past few days hanging out in parks. He was taken to hospital for a checkup on Tuesday afternoon.

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18 Comments
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That's great to hear.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Sad, so very depressing.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

a weekend in the park? sounds pretty nice,probably found a good way to blow stress

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Best news.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Aw. I ran away a couple of times as a young teenager. One night, after an argument with my mother, I ran out wearing only thin clothes, and spent the night sleeping on the doorstep of a church. It was a cold winter's night. I'll never do that again, that's for sure!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Glad he was found safe and sound. Hope things change at home a little, for the better. No idea how the kid was treated before, but hope both he and the family appreciate that they've got each other.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

In the States, your pals' homes usually welcome you in for a couple days. (& vise-versa) Too bad most japanese parents would prob frown on accepting their teenage son/daughter's friend over for a couple days (despite the narrow living conditions compared to the states). To them, it is best not to "get involved", rather than doing what is right.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Wc626: "In the States, your pals' homes usually welcome you in for a couple days."

I think it depends on the situation. If they know there is abuse, certainly, but if they think the kid has just run away I would like to think that they take into account the parents' feelings on the other side.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Maybe the kid has been reading ホームレス中学生 (Homeless Junior High school student) a true story about a boy whose family split up and he ended up living in a local playground/park.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Maybe his father had been "disciplining" him.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Glad he's okay....might want to investigate if he was being bullied at school

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Glad he was found safe!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Maybe his mother had been browbeating him for not excelling enough and resembling his father.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

This is a good ending.. Glad he is home.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Thanks God, he just needed a few days away from the parents....

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Irresponsible on the parents part no doubt. Nevertheless I would go great length to change my method of minding the child had I been the boys parents. You may not be as fortunate next time.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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