JAPAN 53-year-old Japanese man was celebrating the traditional holiday known as Setsubun. As part of the ritual, he attempted to swallow a whole maki sushi roll, but it became lodged in his throat and suffocated him to death. Photos show his autopsy, serving as a stark reminder of the dangers tied to traditions that may seem harmless at first glance.
Setsubun (節分) is a traditional Japanese holiday marking the seasonal transition, though today it is mainly associated with the arrival of spring. The Japanese use small rituals during the festival to symbolically drive away evil spirits and misfortunes that have accumulated over the winter. The main custom is mamemaki (豆まき) – throwing roasted soybeans outside the house or at someone dressed as a demon. Another practice is eating the “sushi roll of good fortune,” called ehō-maki (恵方巻き). The roll must be eaten whole and uncut, while the person faces the year’s lucky direction, which is determined through astrological calculations.
