Takayuki Tanooka won’t face charges over leaving his son in a Japanese forest. Picture: Daisuke Suzuki/Kyodo News via AP

He was sorry for leaving his son in bear-infested woods. He was sorry for causing so much concern. He was sorry for wasting the time of all those who joined the search.

Police today appear to have accepted his apologies, announcing no charges will be laid against him or the boy’s mother. The case is expected to be referred to social services, police said.

Yamato Tanooka survived for six nights alone after his mother and father left him on a mountain road in the woods of Hokkaido, Japan.

Takayuki Tanooka won’t be charged. Picture: Daisuke Suzuki/APSource:AP

Yamato was found after six nights. Picture: Hamawake Elementary School/APSource:AP

His parents kicked him out of their car as punishment for misbehaving by throwing stones. When they returned to pick him up, he was gone.

Police said he was found 5km from where he was dropped off at an empty Japanese air force building in Shikabe Town on Friday morning. He was in relatively good health and was curled up on a mattress when a soldier discovered him.

The boy’s father, Takayuki Tanooka, fought back tears after the seven-year-old was found.

“My excessive act forced my son to have a painful time,” he said.

“I deeply apologise to people at his school, people in the rescue operation, and everybody for causing them trouble.

“The first thing I said to my son was, ‘I’m very sorry to have caused you to face this suffering because of me.’

“We have raised him with love all along ... I really didn’t think it would come to that. We went too far.

“We — well, we loved him before, but I hope to give him even more attention now.”

On Monday, police questioned the boy’s father for about an hour in hospital, accompanied by his mother and doctors, AFP reported.

“We plan not to regard it as a criminal case,” a Hokkaido police spokesman said.

While the boy was still missing, his father admitted what he had done was “unforgivable”.

The long-house-style hut building where seven-year-old Japanese boy Yamato Tanooka was found. Picture: Daisuke Suzuki/APSource:AP

“We have done an unforgivable thing to our child, and we have caused a lot of trouble for everyone. I just hope he is safe.”

The search had gripped Japan, with news programs offering hourly updates. On social media, Yamato’s parents were criticised heavily for what was seen as neglect.

“Making children obey by giving them fear or pain is bad parenting,” Naoki Ogi, a professor of education at Hosei University, said in his blog.

“It’s abuse.”

Yamato, who went walking in the woods dressed only in a T-shirt and jeans, survived despite heavy rains and temperatures dipping below 9C at night.