Two people have died in Japan and several are in a critical condition after choking on traditional rice cakes as part of the new year celebrations.
They may seem harmless, but each year the hard‑to‑eat snack claims several lives, prompting annual warnings from officials.
The cakes, known as mochi, are cute round buns made of soft and chewy rice.
The rice is first steamed and then pounded and mashed.
Families traditionally celebrate New Year by cooking a vegetable broth in which they heat the mochi.
Source: BBC
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