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Alice Yan

A working Japanese couple with six children have sparked outrage by letting their oldest child, 12, babysit his younger siblings every day, leaving no time for himself.
The boy’s story was exposed by the Japanese media outlet Asahi Broadcasting Television’s variety show Detective! Knight Scoop which aired on January 23.

The programme features letters from the public and offers of help to solve their problems in life.
A sixth-grade junior school pupil from Hiroshima Prefecture wrote to the programme for help because he wants relief from his responsibilities as the oldest child in his family.

“I have five younger brothers and sisters. I am 12 years old, while my siblings are aged 10, eight, five, two and less than one,” the boy wrote in his letter.
Known as Kuranosuke, the boy said his mother runs a laundry shop and his father assists her business. He and his father are responsible for household chores.

“While my parents are at work, I look after my siblings. I have to do a lot of stuff, like cooking and folding clothes,” said Kuranosuke.
“I envy my classmates who can play freely. I am tired of being the oldest brother. I want to quit for just one day. Can you help me to be the oldest brother for one day?” asked the boy.

A comic actor, Seiya, was sent by the programme to replace Kuranosuke at his home for a day.
After the boy’s parents, who are both 38 years old, left home for work, Seiya started looking after Kuranosuke’s younger siblings as he does every day.
Seiya was filmed changing nappies, making lunch, folding clothes, lulling the youngest one to sleep, playing games with them, helping them take a bath and drying their hair.

In the middle of doing these chores, Seiya lay on the sofa and said he was exhausted.
As Kuranosuke’s parents returned home in the evening, the film crew was preparing to leave their house.
The boy’s mother was heard yelling to her son, “Cook the rice! Seven cups”, sparking anger from the audience.
Internet sleuths discovered that the mother once wrote on social media that her oldest son was “good to use” when he was only six years old.
The boy’s experience was met with shock and condemnation in Japan, with many people accusing his parents of neglect.
“Since they have so many kids, they should have prepared to look after them all instead of ordering the oldest one to babysit his siblings,” one internet user said.

“How wretched this boy is. When he recalls his childhood, it will be full of doing household chores and looking after his younger brothers and sister,” said another.
A third person said: “I have tipped off the child welfare authority about this case.”
On January 25, the TV station issued a statement, emphasising that while they recognise young carers as an important social issue, family circumstances vary. In this household, the father actively participates in childcare and housework, with the eldest son assisting, said the network.

It went on to explain that they obtained consent, respected privacy and edited the segment carefully, but acknowledged the serious online backlash and asked the public to refrain from harassment, speculation or contacting the family.
The episode was eventually deleted from the station’s website.
An official from the Hiroshima prefectural Children and Family Division said they “will cooperate with relevant agencies and respond if necessary”, according to a report by Sankei Shimbun.


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Viral stories

A Japanese couple with six children, the youngest less than one year old, rely on their 12-year-old son to babysit, raising concerns about child neglect. Photo: SCMP composite/YouTube

A comic actor working with the television film crew cracks an egg as he plays the part of the busy eldest son. Photo: QQ.com

The actor, in a brown coloured hoodie, plays with the family’s children. Photo: QQ.com

This image shows how chaotic bringing up a group of boisterous young children can be. Photo: QQ.com

The brothers and sisters, and their television actor visitor, take a moment of rest on a sofa. Photo: QQ.com

The father of the house, who helps his wife run a laundry shop, talks on camera about his family. Photo: QQ.com

The children’s mother and father are filmed by as they return home from work. Photo: QQ.com

The comic actor who adopted the role of the put-upon 12-year-old, far-right, with the siblings ranked by height and age. Photo: QQ.com

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A Chinese father became violent after suspecting his daughter of using tissues instead of a towel to dry her hair, resulting in a smashed hairdryer and a kicked door. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

The enraged father rants outside his daughter’s bedroom door as she hides inside. Photo: The Paper

The man kicks his daughter’s bedroom door after smashing up a hairdryer. Photo: The Paper

A happy family of three play on a sofa. Psychological experts say the man’s outburst could have a long-term effect on his daughter’s mental health. Photo: Shutterstock

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At a residential compound in Shanghai, a series of accidents were linked to a resident’s adjustments to a traffic mirror intended for better feng shui. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/QQ.com

One of the mirrors which reflects a sharp turn and is designed to help drivers navigate it. Photo: QQ.com

The road in the Shanghai residential compound where the mirror controversy unfolded. Photo: QQ.com

The woman at the centre of the feng shui row is caught on a mobile phone camera. Photo: QQ.com

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Some young parents in China have printed oversized winter holiday test papers to motivate their children to do their homework. Photo: RedNote

A child gets down to work on one of the huge homework papers. Photo: QQ.com

This composite image shows four different children with their oversized homework. Photo: QQ.com

Only the head and feet of a smiling little girl can be seen behind her completed homework. Photo: QQ.com

A youngster hard at work with “normal sized” homework as his father looks on. Photo: Shutterstock

Concerns are rising in Japan over safety measures against GPS stalking after a pregnant woman was allegedly killed by her ex-boyfriend who tracked her to her home. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/YouTube

The Global Positioning System device which led to the alleged killing was hidden in a teddy bear. Photo: Shutterstock

The suspect in the case, Takumi OuchiIn, above, has denied the allegations against him. Photo: X

Experts say a GPS tracking device, above, can be discovered by changing the settings on your mobile phone. Photo: Shutterstock

‘Loneliest’: meet China remote town’s only delivery rider who completes 200 orders daily

A young Chinese man who is the only delivery rider in the remote Tibetan town of Motuo completes up to 200 orders a day. Photo: SCMP composite/Xinhua/RedNote

Huang Kaihong, above, is the only delivery rider in the remote Tibetan town of Motuo. Photo: Douyin

Huang removes a customer’s order from his motorcycle’s cargo container. Photo: Douyin

A busy Huang speaks to one of his many customers on his mobile phone. Photo: Douyin

Huang on his motorcycle. He says he loves the sense of freedom his job gives him. Photo: Douyin

News

People & Culture

Young boy who cooks for, cleans, bathes, his younger brothers and sisters contacts TV station seeking relief from his responsibilities


Young boy who cooks for, cleans, bathes, his younger brothers and sisters contacts TV station seeking relief from his responsibilities.


Japan

Parenting: teens

Parenting: newborns to toddlers

Japan couple spark child neglect concerns for letting son, 12, babysit 5 siblings while they work

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Young boy who cooks for, cleans, bathes, his younger brothers and sisters contacts TV station seeking relief from his responsibilities

Young boy who cooks for, cleans, bathes, his younger brothers and sisters contacts TV station seeking relief from his responsibilities