A 12-year-old Japanese gaming influencer who plans to drop out of primary school to pursue esports full-time has sparked online controversy. -- Photo: X.com/SCMP
BEIJING (SCMP): A 12-year-old Japanese gaming streamer is set to drop out after graduating from primary school to pursue esports full-time, sparking controversy online.
The youngster, Tarou, began playing video games at the age of three and has since amassed more than 230,000 followers online.
On February 8, popular gamer Tarou, 12, announced that he would not attend secondary school, opting instead to pursue a full-time career in esports.
“This is the result of a year-long discussion with my family and school,” he wrote online.
“I want to create a lifestyle that allows me to seriously pursue esports, while still ensuring enough time for sleep, exercise and study.”
In a recent interview with NEWS Post Seven, Tarou’s parents said that he began playing video games at the age of three and was capable of defeating professional players by the second year of primary school.
In 2020, under the guidance of a professional esports player, Tarou launched his social media channel.
The channel primarily streams Fortnite gameplay and has since grown to over 230,000 subscribers.
Tarou said his decision was driven by his ambition to compete in the Fortnite World Cup.
“Top players in these competitions are constantly improving,” he said.
“If I want to catch up or surpass them, practising less than 10 hours a day will not be enough.”
His father supported his decision and said: “Traditional athletes train about five hours a day, but in gaming, players can train for 13 to 14 hours.
“Top contenders on the Asia server usually practise 10 to 12 hours daily and they have done that consistently for five or six years.
“If he had to go to school every day, he would be exhausted after class. It would be impossible to guarantee the focused training time he needs.”
His father is also extremely confident in his son’s abilities and believes he has a natural talent for gaming.
He said that Tarou’s ability to focus far exceeds ordinary children.
The boy once played continuously for 28 hours with almost no breaks; he was concentrating so hard he even forgot to go to the bathroom and accidentally wet himself.
They are so convinced that he has the potential to reach the top.
Japan currently enforces nine years of compulsory education, similar to China.
Tarou’s academic performance has not been disclosed, nor is it known whether he will receive any homeschooling.
His decision has sparked lively debate online.
One online observer wrote: “Secondary schools are the most fun years. Hanging out with friends, joining clubs and enjoying school events. It feels like a waste to devote all of that to esports.”
Another said: “I am rooting for you. The most important thing is to give your all to what you love.”
A Chinese netizen said: “I immediately understood his family’s decision. Some people really should not criticise a child for not going to school.
“His earnings over the past few years might already surpass what most people make in a lifetime of studying and working a conventional job.” -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
