
An eight-year-old boy who accidentally drowned his beloved Nintendo 3DS handheld console has written a heartfelt letter of apology to Nintendo customer service.
Kids do derpy things sometimes, don’t they? If you’ve spent any time around young children, you’ll know that they’ve got the slipperiest butterfingers around, and will constantly drop, smash, or otherwise destroy whatever’s in their possession, often without even meaning to.
An eight-year-old kid in Japan recently (and completely by accident) doused his beloved Nintendo 3DS console with water when he failed to properly screw on the lid of his water bottle before putting it in his schoolbag along with the handheld. The drenched device, now completely borked, was apparently a much-longed-for and treasured possession of the boy’s, and his guilt over murdering his electronic buddy was too much for him to bear.
The boy’s parent tweets that, in response to the boy’s carelessness, they told him he would have to telephone Nintendo’s customer center himself for advice on what to do. After the phone call, during which the boy was advised to send his 3DS in for repair, the young man apparently decided to pen a heartfelt note to send along with the soaked handheld.
Here’s what he had to say for himself:
8歳男児の失態。
— 若【16歳バレエ男子】 (@illil_) January 31, 2016
リュックの中で水筒が倒れ、蓋が開き、3DSを1/4ほど水没させてしまいました。任天堂に自分で問い合わせなさいと申し渡したところ、カスタマーセンターに電話をかけ、修理の手続きを自力でとりました。手紙を同封するそうです pic.twitter.com/6DPYlrYCac
“I’m so sorry I spilled water on my console. Now I have to face the fact that I won’t be able to be with my 3DS, which until now was always with me. From now on, I will be very careful to screw the lid on my water bottle properly. I am really sorry.”
Here’s hoping the folks at Nintendo will be able to get the boy’s portable working again. We’re sure he’ll be much more careful with his gadgets in future!
Source: Grapee
Image: Twitter/@illil_

Nintendo announces end of repair support for 2DS, New 3DS, and New 3DS LL systems
New Nintendo 3DS ad flaunts the incoming console’s spiffy new features 【Video】
The original Pokémon games are coming to Nintendo’s 3DS Virtual Console early next year!
Is the New Nintendo 3DS worth the purchase? Early adopters in Japan share their thoughts
Awesome retro faceplate turns your New Nintendo 3DS into an old-school Game & Watch
Japan’s real-world Pokémon hot spring’s first photos are here![Photos]
Same name tops lists of most popular dog and cat names in Japan, and there’s probably a reason why
Tokyo’s insane Garlic Ramen is a meal, and an aroma, you’ll never forget[Taste test]
Mr. Sato takes a walk on Tokyo’s American-style street to get some American/Japanese ice cream
The Japan Burger Championship 2026 in Yokohama next month is the ultimate battle of the beef
Gundam teams up with 300-year-old daruma maker for wood-carved anime mecha figures[Photos]
Krispy Kreme releases new limited-edition fox doughnuts at only four stores in Japan
Tokyo restaurant offers lunches for less than 1 U.S. cent…if you’re good enough at rock-paper-scissors
Two new Sailor Moon art manhole covers are coming to Usagi’s real-world Tokyo neighborhood
Own a piece of anime history with U-Treasure’s Astro Boy gold miniature figure
Tokyo’s new extra-expensive ramen restaurant is dividing opinions, so we tried a bowl
Japan’s izakaya pubs closing at record pace, failing to attract foreign tourists
Japan has a new cute and clever sunblock for cat lovers
Japanese temple burns to the ground, fire burning inside for 1,200 years unharmed
Japan’s instant ramen snack theme park features an athletic course even adults can enjoy
Krispy Kreme Japan is bringing two special donuts to the most-forgotten big city in the country
Pizza Hut Japan’s drinkable curry pizza is here – Is it all we dreamed it would be?[Taste test]
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
The average age of Japan’s hikikomori shut-ins is getting older, survey shows
Japan enters Golden Week vacation period, survey shows one in three plan to ride it out at home
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
Japan’s new Pokémon jackets give you the look and powers of the Kanto starter trio
Japan now has gyoza doughnuts, and they taste like no other doughnut we’ve tried before
Studio Ghibli releases new anime keychains that are like miniature figurines
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Limited-Edition Pikachu Yellow Nintendo 3DS XL Coming to Japan in September
Hulu Japan announces upcoming video app for Nintendo 3DS systems
Nintendo announces eReader system for children’s books on 3DS
Nintendo eShop closing for 3DS, Wii U next year — Here’s something you might want to do right now
Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon revealed to be the last Pokémon RPGs for the Nintendo 3DS
Nintendo’s new Super Famicom-themed 3DS is a blast from its awesome past
Silicon cyber cats take over the gaming world, one Nintendo 3DS at a time
Limited Edition Pikachu Yellow 3DS LL Sells Out on First Day
How does Hyrule Warriors Legends on the New Nintendo 3DS stack up against other versions?【Video】
Nintendo replaces almost all of gamer’s broken 3DS, hardly charges him anything for the parts
Nintendo announces end of online service for 3DS, Wii U
Pokémon Crystal gets digital release for 3DS in January
With 3DS repair service ending, Nintendo once again shows its god-tier customer service【Photos】
The Nintendo family is expecting! Too bad Twitter knew about the 2DS since 2011
New Nintendo 3DS system headed west in February
Nintendo Announces Two New Colours of 3DS XL for Japan