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[yamanote senbei]

2007 Mochi Death Count: 1

http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20070101p2a00m0na012000c.html

80-year-old man dies after choking on New Year's rice cake
CHIKUSEI, Ibaraki -- An 80-year-old man died after choking on a sticky mochi rice cake at his home here Monday morning, police said.

At about 9 a.m. the pensioner began to choke on the mochi at his home in Chikusei, and his family asked for an ambulance, according to local police. He was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The man, who lived with his wife and other family members, was eating mochi by himself, investigators said. Japanese people have traditionally eaten mochi on happy occasions, such as New Year's Day. (Mainichi)

January 1, 2007

[yamanote senbei]

2007 Mochi Near-Death Count: 11

http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20070102p2a00m0na016000c.html

11 elderly Tokyoites hospitalized by rice cake

Eleven people were rushed to hospital in Tokyo after choking on sticky "mochi" rice cake on New Year's Day, and five of them in their 70s remain in critical condition, the Tokyo Fire Department said Tuesday.

By 9 p.m. on Monday, 11 elderly men and women in their 70s to 90s had been transported to hospital by ambulance after choking on mochi. Of them, five men and women in their 70s fell unconscious and are in critical condition.

The Tokyo Fire Department urged family members to watch elderly people and children while they eat mochi. (Mainichi)

January 2, 2007

[yamanote senbei]

2007 Mochi Death Count: 4

http://www.japantoday.com/jp/news/394967

4 die choking on mochi rice cakes on Monday, Tuesday; others ill
Wednesday, January 3, 2007 at 07:40 EST

TOKYO � Four men choked to death on Monday and Tuesday in Tokyo, Niigata and Ibaraki prefectures, and seven others in the capital became critically ill after choking on mochi rice cakes, a traditional New Year's food in Japan, police and firefighters said.

A 68-year-old man in Tokyo's Fuchu and a 76-year-old man in the capital's Sumida Ward died Tuesday after choking on the rice cakes, while a 74-year-old man in Ojiya, Niigata Prefecture, and an 80-year-old man in Chikusei, Ibaraki Prefecture, died likewise on Monday, they said. In Tokyo, a total of 16 people ranging in age from 65 to 91 were hospitalized due to choking on rice cakes on Monday and Tuesday, and two of them died and seven lost consciousness and were in a serious condition, the Tokyo Fire Department said.

[JimDunlop2]

No. Mochi consumption by the elderly is a good thing. Culls the herds. Keeps the population of the elderly down to manageable levels.