In Tokyo, an elderly woman choked on a rice ball at the turn of the year. As the Japanese daily “Mainichi Shimbun” reported Thursday, the woman, who was in her 90s, was taken to hospital with choking after a sticky ball of rice called o-mochi got stuck in her throat. All help came too late for them.
In the country’s capital alone, a total of nine women and men between the ages of 28 and 93 had to be hospitalized during the three New Year holidays due to choking from eating o-mochi. Every year the Japanese – mostly older – choke themselves on the scoops of rice puree that are traditionally served on New Year’s Day.
Repeated deaths
Although everyone in the country is aware of the danger and deadly asphyxiation attacks keep happening, hardly anyone wants to do without o-mochi for the New Year’s celebration. To prevent accidents, the media annually provide information about tips for calamities. Experts recommend cutting the rice balls into bite-sized pieces and chewing them slowly before eating. For example, the throat should be moistened with tea before swallowing.
Source: Krone
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