12-year-old Japanese boy drops out of school for Fortnite - parents support him
A 12-year-old streamer from Japan, known as Tarou, does not plan to go to middle school after graduating from elementary school and will devote himself entirely to professional gaming.
The decision has been agreed upon with his parents and school authorities. Tarou will create his own schedule taking into account training, sleep, physical activity, and self-study.
The boy has been playing since he was three years old and has gathered more than 230,000 subscribers, mainly a Fortnite audience. He plans to participate in the Fortnite World Cup, and in order to catch up with the world elite, he needs to train for at least 10 hours a day.
The father supports his son and says that in Asia the best players spend 13-14 hours at the computer, which is impossible to combine with a regular school. He emphasizes Tarou's talent - already in the second grade he beat professionals. Once, during a 28-hour session, the boy was so focused on the game that he forgot to go to the toilet and accidentally wet himself.
A discussion has flared up on the Internet: some consider dropping out of school a great loss, others note that Tarou's income may already exceed the salaries of ordinary workers. Compulsory schooling in Japan lasts nine years, and the case of a 12-year-old raises questions about the effectiveness of complying with these rules, given his career prospects in the new digital economy.
