Story highlights Rescuers have found no sign of the boy since he disappeared on Saturday

Seven-year-old Yamato Tanooka was left by his parents as punishment

Tokyo (CNN) Japanese soldiers have joined the search for a seven-year-old boy missing since Saturday in wild bear territory in the country's mountainous north.

Yamato Tanooka was left by the side of the road in woods in Nanae on Japan's Hokkaido island by his parents as punishment for throwing stones at passing cars and people. However, when they returned he was gone.

Yamato Tanooka

Despite a search by a now 200-strong rescue team, including members of Japan's Self-Defense Forces (SDF), there has been no sign of the boy.

"We still have no clue. We just do not know where he went," rescue team spokesman Satoshi Saito told CNN Wednesday.

"Our fatigue level is peaking now. But we will continue to search for the boy."

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