Japanese Father Scolded After Abandoning 7-Year-Old on Mount Fuji
A Japanese father was scolded by police after abandoning his exhausted 7-year-old son alone on Mount Fuji for eight hours while continuing to the summit with his older brother on August 23.
A 48-year-old Japanese father has been strongly cautioned by police after abandoning his 7-year-old son alone on Mount Fuji for several hours in rain and fog. The boy, who had complained of exhaustion, was left with only drinks and snacks while the father continued climbing with his other son to the summit on August 23, according to BBC reporting.
The child was given minimal supplies before his father decided to leave him behind and continue up the mountain with his older brother. The boy waited alone for eight hours before being discovered.
The child was found at approximately 07:30 local time near Station 6 of the Fuji-Subashiri trail, at an elevation of roughly 2,000 meters above sea level. Mountain staff discovered the boy sitting alone on a bench and alerted police for assistance.
Police subsequently tracked down the father between Stations 7 and 8, approximately three hours' walk away. The child had waited alone for eight hours and was exhausted and upset when reunited with his father.
Police strongly criticized the father, stating that abandoning a child alone was unacceptable. The father apologized and acknowledged his decision was rash and impulsive.
The family had been using the Fuji-Subashiri trail, which begins at Station 5 and typically takes about five hours to reach the summit, followed by approximately three hours for the descent.
Mount Fuji, located southwest of Tokyo, stands at 3,776 meters and is an active volcano. It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2013 and is considered one of Japan's three sacred mountains alongside Mount Tate and Mount Haku. Approximately 200,000 climbers ascend the mountain annually, though some routes have implemented visitor limits to prevent overcrowding.
