FOUR people died after eating raw beef served at a barbecue restaurant chain in Japan, broadcaster NHK reported Thursday. Two young boys and two women fell sick and died of food poisoning at restaurants of the Yakiniku-zakaya Ebisu chain in Toyama and Fukui prefectures. Dozens of other customers have also fallen sick in other prefectures. The O-111 strain of E. coli bacteria was detected in the bodies of the dead boys, health authorities said. Sources said a Tokyo meat wholesaler produced the beef exclusively for the barbecue chain.