The Guardian reports that six people in Japan have died this holiday season alone on Mochi— the traditional Japanese rice cakes. An additional 18 people were hospitalized after eating them.
What’s wrong with these particular mochi, you might ask? Nothing. All of the victims were between the ages of 70 and 95. Every year, members of the Japanese government issue warnings to the elderly and small children, urging them to only consume bite-sized pieces of the dish. Tragically, every year, some people don’t heed the warning and choke to death.
Not Intent on Arriving 