Rice cakes behind several deaths, hundreds of hospitalizations in Japan

Rice cakes behind several deaths, hundreds of hospitalizations in Japan
(Image credit: Buddhika Weerasinghe/Getty Images)

A traditional part of a Japanese New Year's meal is responsible for the death of three men in Tokyo and at least nine people across the country.

Mochi, or sticky rice cakes, are grilled or cooked in broth or with sweet beans, The Associated Press reports. The glutinous treats can get stuck in people's throats, blocking their airways, and last week, 128 people were taken to the hospital after choking, the Yomiuri newspaper reports.

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.