Editing Takeru Kobayashi (section)

==Competition and records==
Born in [[Nagano (city)|Nagano]], Japan, he won the 2000 Japanese variety show ''[[TV Champion]]'' Gluttony Championship by eating 16 bowls of ramen in 1 hour in the final. Also competing in the popular TV show ''[[Food Battle Club]]'', he went on to win the final round of several stages, besting his mentor and previous champion. This resulted in a frenzy of fame for him in Japan and Asia before he appeared in the United States.
 
Kobayashi set his first world record in western culture in his rookie appearance on July 4, 2001, when he ate 50 hot dogs in 12 minutes at the [[Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest|Nathan's Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Contest]], almost doubling the previous record of {{frac|25|1|8}}. The record was so unexpected that the organizers ran out of signs indicating how many hot dogs Kobayashi had eaten and had to resort to handwritten signs. He would go on to break his own record three times in winning the contest 6 consecutive times (2001–2006). 
Kobayashi is known for having created the "Solomon Method" of separating the hot dog from the bun, while eating the dogs, then dunking the buns in water to wash the dogs down quickly. As this method became the basis to the competition for all the competitors, it also became apparent amongst the eaters, that Kobayashi's main opponent would dunk their own buns into the water while dissolving them, allowing his opponent to cheat. This later resulted in Kobayashi changing his own dunking technique and refusing to eat at any further hot dog competitions unless agreeing to a "No Dunking Rule". After much controversy between Kobayashi and the abuse he sustained from [[Major League Eating]],{{clarify|date=May 2024|reason=What is MLE?}} he left the competition altogether to compete in a new taco competition called The Gringo Bandito Taco Eating Challenge, sponsored by [[Dexter Holland]] from [[The Offspring]]. Kobayashi went on to be the undefeated champion for nine years, his best score being 159 tacos in 10 minutes, until 2018 when the competition came to an end. 

; 2006
[[File:Nathan 2006 Kobayashi.jpg|thumb|left|Kobayashi at the Johnsonville World Bratwurst Eating Championship in 2006]]

In the 2006 Krystal Square Off, Kobayashi's mark of 97 [[hamburger]]s was 30 better than his winning total in 2005 and 28 better than the world record he set in 2004. 
At a speed-eating contest in Hong Kong on August 13, 2005, Kobayashi consumed 83 vegetarian [[jiaozi]] dumplings in 8 minutes.<ref>{{cite news |title=Japan speed-eater in dumpling win |work=BBC News |date=14 August 2005 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4149974.stm |access-date=2 October 2006 |archive-date=12 July 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060712025959/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4149974.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> The next day, he ate 100 [[baozi|roasted pork buns]] in 12 minutes.<ref>{{cite news |author=Monday Ng |title=Japan speed eater wolfs down 100 pork buns in 12 minutes |work=[[The Standard (Hong Kong)|The Standard]] |date=15 August 2005 |url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Metro/GH15Ak02.html |access-date=2 October 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060827152601/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Metro/GH15Ak02.html |archive-date=27 August 2006 }}</ref> Kobayashi also won the 2005 [[Alka-Seltzer]] US Open of Competitive Eating, a three-hour International Federation of Competitive Eating (IFOCE), elimination tournament on [[ESPN]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Kobayashi Takes Alka-Seltzer US Open of Competitive Eating |publisher=International Federation of Competitive Eating |date=31 July 2005 |url=http://www.ifoce.com/news.php?action=detail&sn=275 |access-date=2 October 2006 |archive-date=18 October 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061018115352/http://www.ifoce.com/news.php?action=detail&sn=275 |url-status=live }}</ref> as well as the [[Glutton Bowl]], a two-hour IFOCE eating special that aired on the [[Fox Network]] in 2002.<ref>{{cite web |author=Tama Miyake |title=Feature: Fast food |work=Metropolis Japan |url=http://metropolis.co.jp/tokyo/431/feature.asp |access-date=2 October 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061117085055/http://www.metropolis.co.jp/tokyo/431/feature.asp |archive-date=2006-11-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Amy Moon |title=Asian Pop: Superchomp Korean-born Sonya Thomas is the No. 1 ranked competitive eater in the USA |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |date=26 May 2005 |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/gate/archive/2005/05/26/eat.DTL |access-date=2 October 2006}}</ref> On Fox's 2003 show ''Man vs. Beast'', Kobayashi lost in an eating competition against a 1089-pound (494&nbsp;kg) [[Kodiak bear]], when he ate 31 bunless hot dogs in 2 minutes and 36 seconds to the bear's 50.<ref>{{cite news |author=Larry Getlen |title=The Miracle That Is Kobayashi |url=http://www.blacktable.com/getlen050519.htm |work=The Black Table |date=19 May 2005 |access-date=23 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219044337/http://www.blacktable.com/getlen050519.htm |archive-date=19 February 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In a 2014 interview, Kobayashi claims to have beaten the bear in the rehearsal.<ref>{{cite news|author=Stephen J. Dubner|title=A Better Way to Eat|url=http://freakonomics.com/2014/07/03/a-better-way-to-eat-full-transcript/|work=Freakonomics|date=3 July 2014|access-date=1 February 2015|archive-date=15 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215205127/http://freakonomics.com/2014/07/03/a-better-way-to-eat-full-transcript/|url-status=dead}}</ref> (In October 2012, Kobayashi broke the record held by the bear at the Texas state fair.){{citation needed|date=September 2014}} On August 5, 2006, Kobayashi set yet another world record at the [[Johnsonville Foods|Johnsonville]] World Bratwurst Eating Championship in [[Sheboygan, Wisconsin]], by downing 58 [[bratwurst]] sausages in 10 minutes, shattering the previous record of 35 set the previous year by [[Sonya Thomas]].<ref>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |title=Kobayashi eats record 58 brats in Sheboygan |work=USA Today |date=5 August 2006 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/2006-08-05-brat-record_x.htm |access-date=1 July 2007 |archive-date=3 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070303205206/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/2006-08-05-brat-record_x.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> On September 23, 2006, Takeru Kobayashi set the world record at the Phantom Food Festival in [[Boston]], for eating 41 Summer Shack [[lobster]] rolls in 10 minutes, replacing the previous record of 22 rolls. Other world-eating records held by Kobayashi include {{convert|17.7|lb|kg}} of cow brains in 15 minutes and {{convert|20|lb|kg}} of rice balls in 30 minutes.

; 2007
On June 25, 2007, Kobayashi announced on his blog that he seriously injured his jaw during training. He stated that he could only open his jaw about the width of a fingertip. Kobayashi's participation in the July 4, 2007, Nathan's contest continued as scheduled. He was able to eat a personal record 63 hot dogs, though his mark was bettered by [[Joey Chestnut]]'s 66.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20043882,00.html |title=Hot Dog Eating Champ Diagnosed with Arthritic Jaw |work=People magazine |date=27 June 2007 |access-date=12 August 2016 |archive-date=23 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823191204/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20043882,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

; 2008
On July 4, 2008, Kobayashi once again competed in the Nathan's contest. He ate 59 hot dogs, tying Chestnut, but lost a sudden death five dog eat off to finish second. This was controversial, as the five dog eat off was decided at the spur of the moment, and had not been an official rule previously, to decide a winner in the circumstance of a tie.

; 2009
[[File:20090928-kobayashi.jpg|thumb|right|Kobayashi at the Krystal Square Off in 2009]]
Kobayashi went on to defeat Joey Chestnut, on May 31, 2009, in a [[P'Zone|Pizza Hut P'Zone]] competition at [[Sony Pictures Studios|Sony Studios]] in [[Culver City]], [[California]]. The competition aired on [[Spike TV]] on June 21.<ref>{{cite web |agency=Associated Press |url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/pizza_eating_contest |date=31 May 2009 |author=Beth Harris |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611171936/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/pizza_eating_contest |title=Japan's Kobayashi beats Chestnut in eating rematch |archive-date=11 June 2009 |access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> In July 2009, Kobayashi visited [[Puerto Rico]] in a special appearance for [[Taco Bell]]'s Why Pay More Challenge, eating 64 tacos in 15 minutes for a local charity.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVJMm3ex9zg  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/wVJMm3ex9zg| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|title=Takeru Kobayashi in Puerto Rico |publisher=YouTube.com |date=18 July 2009 |access-date=12 August 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref> On July 4, 2009, he competed again in the Nathan's contest. He ate 64.5 hot dogs to Joey Chestnut's 68.<ref>{{cite web |last=Byrd |first=Gene |url=http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272626801.shtml |title=nationnaledger.com, Joey Chestnut Beats Takeru Kobayashi |work=National Ledger |date=4 July 2009 |access-date=25 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090708060830/http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272626801.shtml |archive-date=8 July 2009 }}</ref> On September 27, 2009, Kobayashi defeated Chestnut with a score of 93 (68 Krystals, 5 Big Angus Burgers), earning the $20,000 top prize. Chestnut was second, with 81, and Pat "Deep Dish" Bertoletti finished third, with 76.<ref name="youtube.com">{{cite web |title=Takeru Kobayashi Beats Joey Chestnut, Wins Krystal Square Off VI | website=[[YouTube]] | date=28 September 2009 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF_H2bgLXcE  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/mF_H2bgLXcE| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|access-date=12 August 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

[[File:Kobayashi Takeru, Japanese competitive eater 2.jpg|thumb|right|Kobayashi with two Guinness World Record certificates (March 2010)]]

; 2011
On July 4, 2011, Kobayashi competed on the rooftop of a Manhattan bar simultaneously with the Nathan's Contest at Coney Island via a live video simulcast of the event. Kobayashi finished 69 hot dogs, one more than the officially recognized world record at the time.<ref name='TMZvideo'>{{cite news |last=TMZ |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj0CXP_xSL4 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711050701/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj0CXP_xSL4| archive-date=2011-07-11 | url-status=dead|title=Kobayashi INHALES 69 Hot Dogs – The VIDEO! – Hot Dog Eating Contest Record! |work=TMZ |date=5 July 2011 |access-date=5 July 2011}}</ref>

; 2012
On January 23, 2012. Kobayashi went on [[The Wendy Williams Show]] to set the record for eating the most [[Twinkies]] in one minute, for the "Save The Twinkie" campaign, and set a new world record of 14 Twinkies. On February 3, 2012, Kobayashi set the new [[Wing Bowl]] record for eating chicken wings at Wing Bowl XX, held at the [[Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia)|Wells Fargo Center]] in Philadelphia. His total was 337 wings in his first competition in that event.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/02/03/wing-bowl-20-begins-to-stir-up/ |title=Kobayashi Eats 337 Wings In Wing Bowl 20 Victory |date=3 February 2012 |access-date=12 August 2016 |archive-date=20 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820113532/http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/02/03/wing-bowl-20-begins-to-stir-up/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On August 26, 2012, Kobayashi set the new world record at the [[New York State Fair]] in [[Syracuse, New York|Syracuse]] for eating 110 hot dogs in 10 minutes. In October 2012, Kobayashi set the new world record at the [[State Fair of Texas]] for eating 60 hot dogs in 2 minutes 35 seconds. On June 30, 2012, Kobayashi revealed the terms of the [[Major League Eating]] (MLE) contract he was required to sign in order to compete in Nathan's Fourth of July hot dog eating competition. The year-long contract limited him to $40,000 and took away any rights to endorse or engage in anything outside of what MLE mandated.<ref>{{cite web |last=Nelson |first=Amy K. |url=https://www.sbnation.com/2012/7/4/3135547/nathans-hot-dog-eating-contest-2012-kobayashi |title=Kobayashi Vs. Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest |publisher=SBNation.com |date=4 July 2012 |access-date=25 June 2013 |archive-date=1 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130701113357/http://www.sbnation.com/2012/7/4/3135547/nathans-hot-dog-eating-contest-2012-kobayashi |url-status=live }}</ref> On July 4, 2012, Kobayashi competed in the Crif Dog Classic. He ate 58.5 hot dogs and buns. On October 11, 2012, Kobayashi set the new world record at the Gringo Bandito Taco Challenge by eating 106 tacos in 10 minutes<ref>{{cite web|title=Kobayashi, first place champ|url=http://www.ocweekly.com/slideshow/gringo-bandito-taco-eating-challenge-featuring-kobayashi-chronic-tacos-hb-6214231|access-date=12 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814020934/http://www.ocweekly.com/slideshow/gringo-bandito-taco-eating-challenge-featuring-kobayashi-chronic-tacos-hb-6214231|archive-date=14 August 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

; 2013
On July 21, 2013, Kobayashi defended his title at the Gringo Bandito Taco Challenge. On October 6, 2013, Kobayashi won "LET 'EM EAT" Canada's biggest pizza eating contest for the fourth year in a row.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kobayashi wins Canada's biggest pizza eating contest for the fourth year in a row |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/10/06/could_you_eat_10_pizzas_in_12_minutes_this_guy_did.html |location=Toronto |work=The Star |date=6 October 2013 |access-date=12 August 2016 |archive-date=21 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821042901/https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/10/06/could_you_eat_10_pizzas_in_12_minutes_this_guy_did.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

; 2014
On August 4, 2014, Kobayashi set the new world record at "LET 'EM EAT" Canada's biggest pizza eating contest by eating 62 slices of pizza (15 and a half pizzas) in 12 minutes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kobayashi takes Let Them Eat Pie title again in Barrie |url=http://www.simcoe.com/news-story/4736139-kobayashi-takes-let-them-eat-pie-title-again-in-barrie/ |date=6 August 2014 |access-date=12 August 2016 |archive-date=12 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212222405/https://www.simcoe.com/news-story/4736139-kobayashi-takes-let-them-eat-pie-title-again-in-barrie/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

'''2024'''

Kobayashi competed against [[Joey Chestnut]] in September 2024 in a live-streamed Netflix event titled "''[[Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef]]''".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-12 |title=Hot dog-eating champs Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi will go head-to head in a Netflix special |url=https://apnews.com/article/joey-chestnut-netflix-contest-takeru-kobayashi-2ca97d0a8a1a6ceb40ea681b5f0a57b5 |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=AP News |language=en |archive-date=2024-07-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716052123/https://apnews.com/article/joey-chestnut-netflix-contest-takeru-kobayashi-2ca97d0a8a1a6ceb40ea681b5f0a57b5 |url-status=live }}</ref> Chestnut defeated Kobayashi, eating 83 hot dogs in 10 minutes. Kobayashi ate 66 hot dogs, breaking his personal best that he set in 2009 at the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest.<ref>{{cite web |title=Joey Chestnut dominates Takeru Kobayashi in record-setting hot dog eating showdown for Netflix |url=https://nypost.com/2024/09/02/sports/joey-chestnut-dominates-takeru-kobayashi-in-record-setting-hot-dog-eating-showdown/ |website=New York Post |access-date=17 October 2024}}</ref>