Tarou started playing video games at the age of three, but it was two years later, when he discovered Fortnite, that he knew it was his passion. He quickly surpassed his father’s skill level, and by the time he was in second grade, he was already defeating professional players consistently. Recognizing his innate talent, his parents created his own YouTube channel in 2020, which currently has over 230,000 subscribers.
It was on his YouTube channel that Tarou recently announced his decision to drop out of school so he could focus on his esports career and fulfill his dream of qualifying for the Fortnite World Cup. Most parents would have probably tried to convince their child that education is essential to a succesful life, but Tarou’s family supported his decision from the beginning.
“If he had to go to school every day, just the studying alone would exhaust him, making it difficult for him to concentrate on his studies,” Tarou’s father explained, adding that he believed Tarou possessed “exceptional concentration and perseverance.”
The 13-year-old’s commitment to Fortnite appears to be absolute. His father recalled that one time in the second grade, he played the competitive shooter for 28 hours straight, from 10 am the day before to 2 pm the next day, even forgetting to go to the bathroom. He is certainly not the only child to put most of his time into playing video games, but what makes Taoru special is that he managed to keep his focus and passion for Fortnite at a very high level over the years.
Tarou’s parents have said that they are fully aware of the risks involved in his decision to drop out of formal schooling, but believe it is the most suitable choice for their son’s abilities and aspirations at this time. Their statements have done little to put the very heated debate on Japanese social media to rest.
While some believe that formal schooling isn’t the only path available to modern youths, especially with professional eSports gaining traction, others think that this decision will make the boy miss out on valuable teenage experiences.
“Middle school is the happiest time with friends and club activities. It’s a waste to spend it all just playing games,” one person commented on social media.
