Two elderly men died after choking on mochi on the first three days of the New Year in Japan. This sticky, sweet traditional delicacy turns fatal almost every year. But why?

Two people in Japan have died and seven others had to be taken to hospitals after choking on mochi, a sweet rice cake that can prove difficult to swallow if not thoroughly chewed. In just the first ...

Children take part in a mochi pounding event in the rooftop garden at Roppongi Hills in Tokyo on Saturday. Approximately 170 ...

Two elderly men in Japan choked to death on mochi rice cakes as part of a New Year’s tradition that authorities have issued warnings about annually. Eating mochi on and around the New Year is ...

Choking on mochi is so common that authorities offer tips every year on how to help someone who has the food lodged in their throat.

Mochi, a doughy cake made from steamed sweet rice, is more than just a nostalgic taste of Japan; the very act of making mochi – a "mochitsuki" – takes on special significance on New Year's Day.

This is mochi, or rice cake, formed into a round shape to represent a mirror (kagami), one of the three sacred treasures, and displayed at New Year as an offering to the New Year gods (toshigami).

This traditional Japanese soup includes mochi and chicken and is a soothing way to start the new year. Traditionally eaten on New Year’s Day, ozoni is a Japanese soup made with mochi ...

Every week for Foodie Friday, we talk in-studio with the businesspeople and culinary artisans behind outstanding restaurants, ...

Despite an annual warning from authorities, a deadly New Year's trend continued in Japan this week as two people died after choking on mochi — a doughy cake made from steamed sweet rice that is ...