Atsushi Tamura and his wife Saki live in Ehime, with their two sons. Their younger child, Koshi, now two years and seven months old, has remained unconscious since an accident at eight months.

On May 16, 2023, Koshi choked on pieces of raw apple served at his childcare
center, suffering cardiac arrest for more than 40 minutes. He survives today only through round‑the‑clock home care provided by his family.

The Tamuras have reshaped their lives, choosing to speak publicly when Koshi turned two, in the hope that sharing their story might prevent similar tragedies. Their words reveal profound grief and struggle, yet also a determination to face reality. A subsequent city investigation found that staff were unaware of national guidelines warning that raw apple poses a serious choking hazard.

Since 2016, similar accidents have recurred nationwide, raising urgent questions about why they persist and what systemic failures lie behind them.