Takeru Kobayashi
Takeru "Tsunami" Kobayashi (Japanese: 小林尊, b. 1978) is a Japanese competitive eater who holds the world record for hot dog eating. The record of 53 1/2 hot dogs was set by Kobayashi on July 4, 2004.
Records
Kobayashi has won Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest for 5 years in a row.
- 2001: 50 hot dogs*
- 2002: 50 1/2 hot dogs*
- 2003: 44 1/2 hot dogs
- 2004: 53 1/2 hot dogs*
- 2005: 49 hot dogs
(*) Record breaking
He set his first record on July 4, 2001, when he ate 50 hot dogs in 12 minutes at the Nathan's Coney Island hot dog eating contest, shattering the previous record of 25 1/8. In 2002, he broke his own record by eating 50 1/2. In 2003, he won again by eating 44 1/2. In 2004, he triumphed again by eating 53 1/2 hot dogs in 12 minutes, beating his old record. There was a small conflict over this result, as some fellow competitors accused him of expelling vomit during the 12-minute competition. Vomiting is not prohibited per se, but the vomit is not allowed to leave the mouth of a contestant. His latest feat was in 2005 when he managed to eat 49 hot dogs and win his fifth straight contest.
At a speed-eating contest in Hong Kong in August, 2005, Kobayashi consumed 83 vegetarian dumplings in 8 minutes; on the next day, he ate 100 steamed pork buns in 12 minutes.
Training and techniques
Kobayashi's technique relies on avoiding chewing (if possible) and series of stomach expanding seltzer, or soda water, binges. The volume of water and gas in the seltzer expands the stomach without needing to consume any calories. This is how Kobayashi stays at 131 pounds.
Kobayashi is also known for his trademark body wiggle, which he uses to force food down his esophagus.