Takeru Kobayashi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Takeru Kobayashi
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| 小林 尊 | |
Takeru Kobayashi at the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in 2009
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| Born | March 15, 1978 Nagano, Japan
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| Other names | "The Tsunami", "Kobi", "The Prince" (in Japan) |
| Alma mater | Yokkaichi University |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Spouse(s) | Maggie James |
Takeru "Tsunami" Kobayashi (小林 尊, Kobayashi Takeru, born March 15, 1978) is a retired Japanese competitive eater. He is often called "the godfather of competitive eating" because he helped make the sport famous around the world. Kobayashi is a six-time champion of the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest.
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A New Champion Appears
Takeru Kobayashi was born in Nagano, Japan. His journey into competitive eating began in 2000 when he won a gluttony championship on the Japanese TV show TV Champion. He amazed everyone by eating 16 bowls of ramen in one hour. This victory made him a star in Japan.
Soon, he traveled to the United States to compete. In his very first appearance at the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4, 2001, he did something incredible. He ate 50 hot dogs in just 12 minutes! This shattered the old record of about 25 hot dogs. The organizers were so surprised they ran out of signs to count his score and had to write the numbers by hand. Kobayashi won the contest six years in a row, from 2001 to 2006.
How Kobayashi Became a Record Breaker
The Solomon Method
Kobayashi didn't just eat fast; he ate smart. He invented a new technique that changed competitive eating forever. He would break the hot dog in half, eat the meat, and then dip the bun in water. This made the bun easier to swallow quickly. This strategy became known as the "Solomon Method," and soon, other eaters started copying it.
Training for a Competition
To prepare for contests, Kobayashi would train his body. He would eat bigger and bigger meals to help his stomach stretch. He also exercised a lot to stay fit. This allowed his stomach to expand during a competition without being blocked by fat. He is also famous for his "Kobayashi Shake," a little wiggle he does to help food go down and settle in his stomach.
A Career Full of Wins
Kobayashi didn't just eat hot dogs. He set world records for eating all kinds of food. He once ate 97 hamburgers in eight minutes and 159 tacos in ten minutes.
Here are some of his most amazing records:
- Hamburgers: 93 burgers in 8 minutes.
- Tacos: 159 tacos in 10 minutes.
- Pizza: 62 slices in 12 minutes.
- Chicken Wings: 337 wings in 30 minutes.
- Cow Brains: About 18 pounds of cow brains in 15 minutes.
- Rice Balls: 20 pounds of rice balls in 30 minutes.
In 2003, he even competed against a 1,089-pound Kodiak bear on the TV show Man vs. Beast. He ate 31 bunless hot dogs, but the bear ate 50.
Famous Rivalries
For many years, Kobayashi's biggest rival was American eater Joey Chestnut. They had many close contests. In 2007, Kobayashi ate a personal best of 63 hot dogs, but Chestnut won by eating 66. The next year, they tied at 59 hot dogs. A surprise five-dog "eat-off" was held to decide the winner, and Chestnut won.
In 2024, the two rivals faced off one last time in a Netflix event called Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef. Chestnut won by eating 83 hot dogs, but Kobayashi still ate 66, setting a new personal record.
Disagreement with Nathan's Famous
In 2010, Kobayashi stopped competing in the Nathan's Famous contest. This was because of a disagreement over his contract. The company wanted him to sign a deal that would prevent him from competing in other contests. Kobayashi felt this was unfair and wanted more freedom.
On July 4, 2010, he showed up to the contest as a spectator. The crowd chanted his name, "Let him eat!" Excited, he jumped on stage after the event was over. This led to a misunderstanding with security, and he was arrested. A judge later dismissed all the charges.
Because of the dispute, Nathan's Famous removed his picture from their "Wall of Fame." Kobayashi never competed in their main event again. Instead, he held his own eating events nearby. In 2011, he ate 69 hot dogs at a rooftop bar, which was more than the winner of the official contest ate that year.
Life Outside of Eating
Kobayashi became a well-known celebrity. He appeared in commercials for major brands like MasterCard and Coors Light. He was also a guest on many TV shows, including Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and The Wendy Williams Show.
He is also an aspiring dog trainer and loves his six labradoodles, which he playfully calls his "hot dogs." In 2013, he even launched his own brand of hot dogs, called "Kobi Dogs."
See also
In Spanish: Takeru Kobayashi para niños
- List of competitive eaters
Images for kids
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Takeru Kobayashi wearing a hachimaki, a Japanese headband, in 2010.
