Nine choke to death on mochi
Naked men in loinclothes pound steamed rice into mochi (rice cakes) to celebrate the New Year at the Kanda shrine in Tokyo on January 1, 2015. / AFP-Yonhap
Nine people have choked to death eating mochi rice cakes over the New Year period in Japan, despite warnings to chew slowly on this favorite treat.
At least 128 people were taken to hospital, where nine died.
Three died in Tokyo and Chiba prefectures, respectively, while one each died in Osaka, Aomori and Nagasaki, according to Yomiuri newspaper.
Mochi, or sticky rice cake, can be grilled or cooked with sweet red beans or broth. But this glutinous treat can get stuck in the throat, leading to people choking to death, especially young children or elderly people.
Japan’s emergency services recommend that people cut the mochi into bite-size pieces and to chew thoroughly before swallowing.