A 12-year-old Japanese gaming streamer is going viral after announcing plans to step away from traditional schooling to pursue esports full-time.
The boy, who goes by Tarou, shared in a post on X that he does not plan to attend secondary school after graduating from primary school. “This is the result of a year-long discussion with my family and school,” he wrote.
In the same post, Tarou explained that his goal is to structure his life around competitive gaming without sacrificing his health. “I want to create a lifestyle that allows me to seriously pursue esports, while still ensuring enough time for sleep, exercise and study,” he added.
According to his parents, Tarou began playing video games at age 3 and quickly demonstrated unusual focus. In an interview with NEWS Post Seven via South China Morning Post, they said he was already capable of defeating professional players by his second year of primary school.
Under the guidance of a professional esports player, Tarou launched his social media channel in 2020. The channel, which primarily features Fortnite gameplay, has since grown to more than 230,000 subscribers.
Tarou said his motivation comes from his desire to compete at the highest level, including the Fortnite World Cup. “Top players in these competitions are constantly improving,” he told the outlet, explaining the pressure to train intensively.
“If I want to catch up or surpass them, practising less than 10 hours a day will not be enough,” Tarou added. He suggested that traditional schooling would make that level of commitment difficult to maintain.
His father echoed that concern in the NEWS Post Seven interview, comparing esports to traditional athletics. “Traditional athletes train about five hours a day, but in gaming, players can train for 13 to 14 hours,” he said.
The father added that elite competitors on the Asia servers typically practice 10 to 12 hours daily for five or six years. “If he had to go to school every day, he would be exhausted after class,” he said, calling focused training nearly impossible under that schedule.
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He also pointed to his son’s extraordinary concentration as evidence of his potential. The father recalled that Tarou once played continuously for 28 hours and was so absorbed that he forgot to go to the bathroom and accidentally wet himself.
Japan enforces nine years of compulsory education, a fact that has fueled online discussion about Tarou’s future. His academic performance was not disclosed, and it remains unclear whether he will pursue homeschooling or another alternative.
Reaction online is sharply divided, with some commenters lamenting the loss of traditional school experiences. Others offered encouragement, with one supporter writing, “The most important thing is to give your all to what you love.”
12-Year-Old Fortnite Streamer Plans to Leave School for Esports
