Japan military joins search for missing boy

Japan's military on Wednesday joined the search for a seven-year-old boy missing in the country's north since his parents said they abandoned him in a bear-inhabited mountain forest, officials said.

A total of 75 personnel from the Ground Self-Defence Force – Japan's army – joined some 130 fire rescuers, police officers and volunteers to look for the boy, rescuer Satoshi Saito told AFP by telephone.

Yamato Tanooka has been missing since Saturday after his parents said they made him get out their car on a mountain road as punishment for misbehaving. He is reportedly without food or water.