Baby swallows gashapon container, Bandai pays
In August 2002, a 34 month old baby had swallowed a gashapon container 40mm in diameter causing permanent physical disabilities due to brain damage caused from the lack of oxygen. So the parents went after the maker Bandai Namco for compensation.
The Kagoshima District Court has ruled on the 20th that Bandai Namco will have to pay 26,260,000 yen (US$260,000) in compensation as the gashapon container was found to be unsafe for children.
Bandai Namco had argued that the safety guidelines by the Japan Toy Association were that toys for children under 3 had to be larger than 31.8mm, but the judge ruled that the size requirements in the guidelines were not adequate in preventing accidents.
Via: Mainichi news
May 20th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
I feel sorry for the baby. I just hope that, somehow he/she recovers.
Though I’m curious as to how big that gashapon was…. the ones I know are relatively…. big. For a baby’s mouth.
May 20th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Hmm, I always wonder where the parents are when this kind of thing happens..
May 20th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
1: Gashapons should NOT be that small.
2: Parents should take better care of their kids than this.
Meh…
May 21st, 2008 at 9:59 am
Hmm, I’m suspicious of the parents… the things money can do, as they say…
May 21st, 2008 at 3:06 pm
The settlement wasn’t that much either, I mean…just over 200 grand? Usually courts in the States go crazy with the settlement amount.
…”34 month old baby” that’s not a baby, that’s a toddler. Hell, he/she is nearly 3 years old. Of COURSE they’re going to try to eat anything you give them!
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:08 am
I don’t completely understand why the case hinged on the size of the capsule, when the toy contained inside it is invariably smaller in diameter and presents a far bigger choking hazard. 3 year-olds shouldn’t be in contact with these things at all.
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:56 am
I’ve seen MP3 players small enough for kids to swallow. Ouch.
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:18 am
choke chink choke
waaaaaaasaaaaabe
May 25th, 2008 at 5:35 am
“I just hope that, somehow he/she recovers.”
Sorry man, not gonna happen. Permanent damage = irreversible damage.
I’d imagine taking care of the kid will cost a lot more than $260,000.
September 1st, 2008 at 5:22 am
Am I the only one that’s sympathetic to the company? I mean sure, it’s unfortunate for the baby, but companies can’t really for see all accidents of this type, and if they meet the manufacturing standards, part of the blame should be shifted on the imperfect standards.
For the record, 40 mm diameter sphere is actually fairly large, when considering most people can’t swallow whole objects even a third of that in size.