Once upon a time, Takeru Kobayashi was the reigning champion.
Japan has many notable cultural exports: Pokémon, Godzilla, sushi, and Nintendo among them. Additionally, athletes like Shohei Ohtani, Ichiro Suzuki, and Antonio Inoki have garnered global acclaim.
Yet, few have made an impact like Kobayashi – and none have his remarkable appetite.
When Kobayashi entered the American competitive eating scene in the early 2000s, he revolutionized the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. He secured six consecutive Mustard Belts from 2001 to 2006 and even featured in a “This is SportsCenter” commercial. Kobayashi was the main attraction.
In 2010, Kobayashi and Major League Eating (MLE), which sanctions Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, had a contract dispute. MLE wanted an exclusive deal, which Kobayashi opposed.
Kobayashi last competed in the July Fourth contest in 2009, finishing second to Joey Chestnut with 64½ hot dogs to Chestnut’s 68.
At the 2010 contest, Kobayashi was arrested after appearing on stage despite not being scheduled to compete. He claimed he was there to congratulate Chestnut and respond to the crowd’s wishes for him to participate.
In subsequent years, Kobayashi continued to set records worldwide, but he never again competed in Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest.
In 2024, Kobayashi retired. In a Netflix documentary titled “Hack Your Health,” he explained how years of competitive eating had taken a toll on his body.
“I hear people say they’re hungry, and they look very happy after they’ve eaten. I’m jealous of those people because I no longer feel hunger,” Kobayashi said in the documentary. “I hope to live a long and healthy life.”
However, it appears that Kobayashi still has a bit of fight – both literally and figuratively – left in him.