A three-year-old boy in Japan has been left severely disabled after choking on a banana at his kindergarten, an incident that deprived his brain of oxygen and caused irreversible damage.
According to Abema Times, the toddler, identified as Hatou Otori, also known as Ou, suffered hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy—a serious brain injury caused by insufficient oxygen and blood flow. The condition has left him unable to walk or speak, with minimal brain function.
The incident occurred on June 1, 2023, when Ou was about one year old. While eating a banana at kindergarten, he suddenly began choking and experienced asphyxia. His mother recalled receiving an urgent call informing her that an ambulance had been dispatched. By the time she and Ou’s father arrived at the hospital, he had lost the ability to breathe on his own.
Medical examinations later confirmed that prolonged oxygen deprivation had caused severe brain damage. Ou’s family said they were informed that the banana had been cut, but claimed the pieces were still too large for a child of his age. They also expressed frustration over what they described as an indifferent response from those responsible, prompting them to speak publicly about the incident.
Now fully dependent on his family for daily care, Ou can see and hear but is unable to communicate verbally or move independently. His father said he hopes to see his son smile again, while his mother said that despite everything, she treasures the fact that her child is alive.
“Just being alive is a wonderful thing,” she said. “He’s so adorable. I can’t help but say it over and over again.”
