First case in Japan: A man in his 20s from Kyushu died from energy drinks and caffeine pills

Posted on December 22, 2015 | Last updated February 11, 2025

First case in Japan: A man in his 20s from Kyushu died from energy drinks and caffeine pills
In Japan, there have been no reported cases of death due to caffeine poisoning until now, but in 2014, a man in his 20s living in Kyushu passed away after regularly consuming energy drinks and caffeine pills.

The incident was covered on television, and Energy Drink Mania saw an unusual amount of traffic, so I thought I’d document it in this article for the record.

Author information Author: Energy Drink-kun

In 2001, while living in the United States, I encountered energy drinks through the dance scene and was deeply impressed. After returning to Japan, I found that energy drinks were considered novelty beverages, so I established a comprehensive website in 2013 to share the true appeal of energy drinks. As an energy drink enthusiast, I began drinking them seriously again, collecting over 7,000 varieties of energy drinks from various countries. I am also active as a critic and expert, receiving media interviews.

About the Man Who Died from Caffeine Poisoning

A man in his 20s from Kyushu
Worked a night shift at a 24-hour store
Regularly consumed caffeinated soft drinks for over a year before his death
Had ongoing health issues for that year, including vomiting
One week before his death, experienced drowsiness that affected his work
On the day of his death, he vomited and was bedridden

The man is believed to have consumed large amounts of energy drinks and caffeinated soft drinks, as well as caffeine pills, in an attempt to counteract his sleepiness, which had worsened a week before his death.

Announcement by the Doctor Who Conducted the Autopsy

According to a statement by Professor Shinichi Kubo from Fukuoka University Medical School, who conducted the autopsy, the following facts were revealed. (The findings were presented at a conference in Kobe in October.)

Regularly consumed caffeinated soft drinks with 150-170 mg of caffeine per bottle
The names of the energy drinks believed to be involved were not disclosed
Fragments of what may have been caffeine pills were found in his stomach
182 micrograms of caffeine per ml of blood detected (70 micrograms or more has been linked to previous fatal cases)

The cause of death was concluded to be caffeine poisoning from the consumption of caffeinated drinks and caffeine pills in a short period of time. This incident was the first reported case of such a death in Japan and has been reported in the media as the "first case in Japan where someone died due to regular consumption of energy drinks."

Professor Shinichi Kubo commented that the combination of consuming large amounts of energy drinks and caffeine pills may have contributed to the man's death. However, the exact pills consumed have not been revealed.

Response from News Programs

Most news programs covered this incident as the first case in Japan where someone died due to energy drinks. They highlighted the fact that caffeine is found in various products such as coffee, tea, energy drinks, caffeine pills, nutritional drinks, and even cold medicine, and warned that people may unknowingly consume too much caffeine.

It was reassuring to hear that energy drinks are not particularly high in caffeine compared to other beverages, and that it would be difficult to reach a lethal dose from drinking energy drinks alone in a short time. For more information on the amount of caffeine that can cause caffeine addiction, please refer to Caffeine Addiction Levels.

As an Energy Drink Enthusiast

Although it's not clear whether the drink involved was an energy drink or something like "Minmin Dasha" (a Japanese energy drink), after hearing and reading about the incident where someone died from energy drinks, I couldn't help but empathize with the family of the deceased. It must be incredibly painful for them to see this news, especially since the death occurred last year and the news was only reported in 2015.

First case in Japan: A man in his 20s from Kyushu died from energy drinks and caffeine pills
While I can't confirm the exact details for 2014, I personally consumed 2-4 energy drinks a day, totaling around 900-950 cans per year. I have experienced symptoms of acute caffeine poisoning a few times, but since I don't drink for the sake of pushing myself, I would take a break and reduce my intake when necessary. It's clear that excessive consumption is not good for your health. In 2015, I estimated that I drank around 300-400 cans of energy drinks.

In 2015, the reason I drank fewer energy drinks was not because I was trying to cut back, but because I was simply too busy and didn't have time for them. I don't use energy drinks to stay awake, as I believe there's too much waste in doing so, and I don't sacrifice my sleep schedule. If I do drink energy drinks, I prefer to enjoy them. Energy drink enthusiasts will understand what I mean.

With this news, I think the danger of caffeine poisoning from energy drinks has become more widely recognized, and the perception that energy drinks are dangerous has been reinforced.

That said, the news programs did mention that drinking energy drinks in moderation is safe, and the Energy Drink Mania site has been saying the same thing for years. However, the negative impression seems to stick more easily and spread faster, making energy drinks seem like the villain in the story.

I do think it's good that the risks of caffeine poisoning are being widely shared, and it's certainly better for people to realize that there's a limit to how much you should drink rather than having to deal with another tragic death. Hopefully, this will help people understand the importance of moderation when consuming energy drinks.