Gamagori, January 1

A man has been confirmed dead at a prefectural hospital today after eating mochi containing deadly fugu and poisonous wild mushrooms. The man, Shigeo Takehara was eating the mochi at his house early morning prepared by his wife. He became unable to breathe after choking on the sticky rice cake, when his wife called for an ambulance. He was declared dead at the time of the emergency vehicle's arrival.

Rushed to hospital suffering breathing difficulty and muscle paralysis from the puffer fish tetrodotoxin, Takehara also died in the ambulance and operators gave up trying to revive him after several attempts. On arrival at the hospital, Takehara, 75, received emergency treatment for mushroom poisoning but failed to survive a stomach pumping operation and died again on the operating table.

Takehara's wife, Himeko 74, had prepared the mochi from fugu received from a neighbour and mushrooms they had picked during spring from local forests. She told police that the fugu/mushroom mochi was a delicacy in the area and that she prepared the treat every year.
"He does this each time," she said tearfully. "This is a terrible embarrassment for the family." Police confirmed that Takehara had a history of dying after eating dangerous food.
"We hope he learns this time," said local officer Hidenori "Buster" Fujii. "You can't just keep stuffing poison down your throat and expect not to die now and again."

Takehara was released from hospital later that morning and returned home to continue the New Year's celebrations.

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