One of the most popular customs in Japan during the New Year holidays is eating mochi, which are rice cakes produced by pounding rice until it turns into a gooey mass.

These days, most people purchase their mochi at the store as pre-shaped blocks that are quite hard. When mochi is cooked by roasting or boiling, however, is becomes extremely sticky and difficult to chew.

Each year, a number of people, usually elderly, end up chocking to death while enjoying this seasonal treat, and this year was no exception.

According to police, four people in the Tokyo area ranging in age from 74 to 92 choked to death while eating mochi this year.