TOKYO (TR) – An elderly man choked on a sticky mochi rice cake at a residence in Itabashi Ward on Tuesday and died, reports NHK (Jan. 1).
According to the Tokyo Fire Department, a family member reported that the man, aged in his 70s, had choked on mochi at home just after noon.
The man was taken to hospital, but later died.
The Tokyo Fire Department is calling for people to be especially careful when eating mochi, such as cutting it into small pieces and chewing it well. They should also moisten their throats with tea or soup before eating mochi.
If the person chokes, if they are conscious, support their chest or chin and turn them face down. Then tap their back to encourage them to cough it up. If they are unconscious, perform cardiac massage immediately and call an ambulance.
There are more opportunities to eat mochi during the New Year. The department says citizens should be careful as there are choking accidents every year.
According to a survey by the department, 368 people were rushed to the hospital after choking on mochi or other foods between 2019 and 2023. Of them, approximately 90 percent were over 65 years old. In that span, the month with the most hospitalizations was January with 142 people, followed by December with 43 people.
