12-Year-Old Japanese Gamer Plans to Quit School to Go Pro in Esports, Parents Say Yes

A 12-year-old Japanese gamer’s decision to walk away from school and pursue a professional esports career has sparked heated debates across the world, but his parents are ready to back him up. Japanese prodigy Tarou has been gaming since he was three years old, as stated by his family, and has garnered over 232,000 subscribers since creating a YouTube channel in 2020 due to his exceptional gaming skills. In a recent X post, Tarou announced his plans not to pursue formal education after finishing elementary school. He also stated that he intends to invest more time and energy in esports, with hopes of competing in major events like the Fortnite World Cup. “After graduating from elementary school, I decided not to attend junior high school,” a rough translation of the post reads. “This is the result of discussions over the course of a year with my family and school, in order to create a lifestyle where I can seriously pursue both competitive Fortnite and YouTube while ensuring sufficient time for sleep, exercise, and studying.” https://twitter.com/fn_taro/status/1888048491425054887 In an interview with NEWS Post Seven, Tarou’s father made it clear he fully supports the decision, explaining that a conventional school routine would prevent Tarou from maintaining a professional training regimen. Tarou’s parents further said they were confident in his potential to reach the highest level of competitive play, while citing his ability to outplay even veteran players. However, the community’s reaction to Tarou’s plans to quit school for gaming has been rather mixed. While some wholeheartedly supported his decision to pursue his passion, others were a bit critical, claiming that spending the “most fun years” playing video games might be a “waste." Needless to say, the global spotlight will remain firmly on Tarou for years to come as his esports journey unfolds, for better or worse.