Takeru Kobayashi
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
competitive eater
. He held the world record
for hot dog
eating for nearly six years, and holds several other eating records, including four Guinness Records for hot dogs, meatballs, hamburgers, and pasta.
, Japan
, Kobayashi set his first record at his rookie appearance on July 4, 2001, when he ate 50 hot dogs in 12 minutes at the Nathan's Coney Island
hot dog-eating contest
, doubling the previous record of 25. The record was so unexpected that when Kobayashi got to the later numbers, the organizers ran out of signs indicating how many dogs Kobayashi had eaten and had to resort to handwritten signs. Kobayashi would go on to break his own record three times in winning the contest six consecutive times (2001–2006).
On June 2, 2007, Joey Chestnut
broke Kobayashi's record with 59.5 hot dogs and buns in a qualifying round for the annual Nathan's contest.
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. The next day, he ate 100 roasted pork buns
in 12 minutes. Kobayashi also won the 2005 Alka-Seltzer US Open of Competitive Eating, a three-hour IFOCE elimination tournament on ESPN
, as well as the Glutton Bowl
, a two-hour IFOCE eating special that aired on the Fox Network in 2002. However, on Fox's 2003 show Man vs. Beast, Kobayashi lost in an eating competition against a 1089-pound Kodiak bear
, when he ate 31 bunless hot dogs in 2 minutes and 36 seconds to the bear's 50.
On August 5, 2006, Kobayashi set yet another world record at the 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
.
On September 23, 2006, Takeru Kobayashi set the world record at the Phantom Food Festival in Boston
, Massachusetts
, 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 17.7 pounds of cow brains in 15 minutes and 20 pounds (9 kg) of rice balls in 30 minutes.
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 Chestnut's 66.
On July 4, 2008, Kobayashi once again competed in the Nathan's contest. He and Chestnut reached a tie of 59 hot dogs and buns each, but he came in second to Chestnut in a 5-dog tiebreaker eatoff.
Kobayashi went on to defeat Chestnut, May 31, 2009, in a Pizza Hut
P'Zone competition at Sony Studios in Culver City, California
. The competition aired on Spike TV
on June 21.
On July 4, 2009, he competed again in the Nathan's contest. While he reached 64.5 hot dogs and buns, Chestnut beat him by 3.5 with 68 hot dogs and buns.
Also on 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.
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.
Kobayashi's official web site gives his height as 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) and his weight as 58 kg (128 lb). However he's weighed as much as 87 kg (191.8 lb) according to a June 29, 2006 blog entry. As of July 4, 2009, Kobayashi weighed in at 60 kg (132 lb) for the annual Fourth of July hot dog eating competition on Coney Island.
Kobayashi is also known for his trademark body wiggle, referred to by some as the "Kobayashi Shake", to force food down his esophagus
and settle more compactly in his stomach. He eats the hot dogs by splitting the frankfurter
in half, dipping the buns in water, Sprite
, or 7-Up and then stuffing both parts in his mouth. He calls this the Solomon Method.
claimed the first of five consecutive victories.
* set new world record
** 69 at an unofficial off-site event, unofficially setting a new world record
Yellow = World record holder
1 Contest time reduced from 12 to 10 minutes.
, the contestants had to eat a bowl of brains. Kobayashi won with a finished plate of 55 brains.
Kobayashi was also the reigning champion of the Krystal Square Off
World Hamburger Eating Championship until 2007, when he could not compete due to a recent wisdom tooth
extraction. The 2007 winner was Joey Chestnut
, who ate 103 hamburgers. In 2009, Kobayashi regained his Krystal title with 93 hamburgers, winning by a 10-burger margin.
's insistence that Kobayashi sign an exclusive contract with the organization that would prevent him from competing in contests not sanctioned by MLE.
On July 4, 2010, Kobayashi was in attendance at the Nathan's International Hot Dog Eating Contest, watching from the crowd. Wearing a black T-shirt that read "Free Kobi", Kobayashi mingled with the crowd, standing inside a police-barricaded pen just under the stage. After the competition ended, he slipped up the stage stairs and crashed the stage. Although he was initially ushered by security officers up to the stage, one security officer (thought to have been requested by George Shea), quickly ushered him offstage as he resisted vehemently, hanging on to the barricades and fences before being taken into custody. Though some witnesses reported that Kobayashi was attempting to congratulate the winner, Joey Chestnut
, co-host and Major League Eating
President Richard Shea, stated that "[Kobayashi] tried to jump on stage during the awards ceremony to disrupt it." With the crowd chanting, "Free Kobi!" and "Let him eat! Let him eat!”, police handcuffed him. He was charged with resisting arrest, trespassing and obstructing governmental administration and spent the rest of the 4th of July in jail awaiting an appearance in Brooklyn Criminal Court.
Kobayashi's interpreter and publicist, Maggie James said he had originally gone in hopes to cheer on his fellow competitive eaters, but after arriving and the chanting from the fans, he was swooped onto the stage due to the excitement. She said "There's a contract dispute, they weren't giving him his freedom. It was unfair."
Kobayashi told reporters he had a sandwich and a glass of milk while being held. "I am very hungry," he said. "I wish there were hot dogs in jail."
On August 5, 2010 all charges against Kobayashi were dismissed by a judge in Brooklyn. Despite his record six consecutive victories in their annual event, Nathan's removed Kobayashi's image from their "Wall of Fame" in 2011.
deemed Kobayashi's solo appearance "an improbably perfect 'up yours'" to the Nathan's hot dog eating contest."
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
competitive eater
Competitive eating
Competitive eating, or speed eating, is a sport in which participants compete against each other to consume large quantities of food in a short time period. Contests are typically less than 15 minutes in length, with the person consuming the most food being declared the winner...
. He held the world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
for hot dog
Hot dog
A hot dog is a sausage served in a sliced bun. It is very often garnished with mustard, ketchup, onions, mayonnaise, relish and/or sauerkraut.-History:...
eating for nearly six years, and holds several other eating records, including four Guinness Records for hot dogs, meatballs, hamburgers, and pasta.
Competition and records
Born in NaganoNagano, Nagano
, the capital city of Nagano Prefecture, is located in the northern part of the prefecture near the confluence of the Chikuma and the Sai rivers, on the main Japanese island of Honshū.As of April 1, 2011 the city has a population of 387,146...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Kobayashi set his first record at his rookie appearance on July 4, 2001, when he ate 50 hot dogs in 12 minutes at the Nathan's Coney Island
Coney Island
Coney Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....
hot dog-eating contest
Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest
The Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest is an annual American competitive-eating competition, which is run as a publicity gathering event by Shea Communications. It is held each July 4 at Nathan's Famous Corporation's original, and best-known restaurant at the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues in...
, doubling the previous record of 25. The record was so unexpected that when Kobayashi got to the later numbers, the organizers ran out of signs indicating how many dogs Kobayashi had eaten and had to resort to handwritten signs. Kobayashi would go on to break his own record three times in winning the contest six consecutive times (2001–2006).
On June 2, 2007, Joey Chestnut
Joey Chestnut
Joseph Christian "Jaws" Chestnut is an American competitive eater. The , engineering student is currently ranked first in the world by the International Federation of Competitive Eating...
broke Kobayashi's record with 59.5 hot dogs and buns in a qualifying round for the annual Nathan's contest.
In the 2006 Krystal Square Off, Kobayashi's mark of 97 hamburger
Hamburger
A hamburger is a sandwich consisting of a cooked patty of ground meat usually placed inside a sliced bread roll...
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
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
on August 13, 2005, Kobayashi consumed 83 vegetarian jiaozi
Jiaozi
Jiǎozi 餃子 or 饺子 , bánh bột luộc , gyōza , Mo:Mo: or Momocha म:म: or ममचा , or pot sticker is a Chinese dumpling widely spread to Japan, Eastern and Western Asia.Jiaozi typically consist of a ground meat and/or vegetable filling wrapped into...
dumplings in 8 minutes. The next day, he ate 100 roasted pork buns
Baozi
A bāozi or simply known as bao, bau, humbow, nunu, bausak, pow or pau is a type of steamed, filled bun or bread-like item in various Chinese cuisines, as there is much variation as to the fillings and the preparations...
in 12 minutes. Kobayashi also won the 2005 Alka-Seltzer US Open of Competitive Eating, a three-hour IFOCE elimination tournament on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, as well as the Glutton Bowl
Glutton Bowl
The Glutton Bowl was a two-hour Fox Network eating special in 2002 sanctioned by the International Federation of Competitive Eating. The special, which was co-executive produced by Nash Entertainment and IFOCE co-founder Richard Shea, featured Mark Thompson and IFOCE co-founder George Shea as...
, a two-hour IFOCE eating special that aired on the Fox Network in 2002. However, on Fox's 2003 show Man vs. Beast, Kobayashi lost in an eating competition against a 1089-pound Kodiak bear
Kodiak Bear
The Kodiak bear , also known as the Kodiak brown bear or the Alaskan grizzly bear or American brown bear, occupies the islands of the Kodiak Archipelago in South-Western Alaska. Its name in the Alutiiq language is Taquka-aq. It is the largest subspecies of brown bear.- Taxonomy :Taxonomist C.H...
, when he ate 31 bunless hot dogs in 2 minutes and 36 seconds to the bear's 50.
On August 5, 2006, Kobayashi set yet another world record at the Johnsonville
Johnsonville Foods
Johnsonville Sausage is a Wisconsin-based sausage producer, founded in 1945 by Ralph F. & Alice Stayer. Johnsonville Sausage produces various varieties of sausage including fresh bratwurst, Italian sausage, smoked-cooked links and fresh breakfast sausage links...
World Bratwurst Eating Championship in Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
-Airport:Sheboygan is served by the Sheboygan County Memorial Airport, which is located several miles from the city.-Roads:Interstate 43 is the primary north-south transportation route into Sheboygan, and forms the west boundary of the city. U.S...
, by downing 58 bratwurst
Bratwurst
A bratwurst is a sausage usually composed of veal, pork or beef. The plural in German is Bratwürste....
sausages in 10 minutes, shattering the previous record of 35 set the previous year by Sonya Thomas
Sonya Thomas
Sonya Thomas , also known by her nickname The Black Widow, is a top-ranked Korean-born American competitive eater from Alexandria, Virginia. Thomas joined the International Federation of Competitive Eating in 2003 and quickly rose to the top of the ranks, beating competitive eaters such as Ed...
.
On September 23, 2006, Takeru Kobayashi set the world record at the Phantom Food Festival in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, for eating 41 Summer Shack lobster
Lobster
Clawed lobsters comprise a family of large marine crustaceans. Highly prized as seafood, lobsters are economically important, and are often one of the most profitable commodities in coastal areas they populate.Though several groups of crustaceans are known as lobsters, the clawed lobsters are most...
rolls in 10 minutes, replacing the previous record of 22 rolls.
Other world-eating records held by Kobayashi include 17.7 pounds of cow brains in 15 minutes and 20 pounds (9 kg) of rice balls in 30 minutes.
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 Chestnut's 66.
On July 4, 2008, Kobayashi once again competed in the Nathan's contest. He and Chestnut reached a tie of 59 hot dogs and buns each, but he came in second to Chestnut in a 5-dog tiebreaker eatoff.
Kobayashi went on to defeat Chestnut, May 31, 2009, in a Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut is an American restaurant chain and international franchise that offers different styles of pizza along with side dishes including pasta, buffalo wings, breadsticks, and garlic bread....
P'Zone competition at Sony Studios in Culver City, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The competition aired on Spike TV
Spike TV
Spike is an American cable television channel. It launched on March 7, 1983 as The Nashville Network , a joint venture of WSM, Inc...
on June 21.
On July 4, 2009, he competed again in the Nathan's contest. While he reached 64.5 hot dogs and buns, Chestnut beat him by 3.5 with 68 hot dogs and buns.
Also on July 2009, Kobayashi visited Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
in a special appearance for Taco Bell
Taco Bell
Taco Bell is an American chain of fast-food restaurants based in Irvine, California. A subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., which serves American-adapted Mexican food. Taco Bell serves tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, other specialty items, and a variety of "Value Menu" items...
's Why Pay More Challenge, eating 64 tacos in 15 minutes for a local charity.
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.
Training and techniques
Kobayashi expands his stomach for a competition by eating larger and larger amounts of food, and then exercises to ensure that fat will not impede expansion of his stomach during a competition.Kobayashi's official web site gives his height as 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) and his weight as 58 kg (128 lb). However he's weighed as much as 87 kg (191.8 lb) according to a June 29, 2006 blog entry. As of July 4, 2009, Kobayashi weighed in at 60 kg (132 lb) for the annual Fourth of July hot dog eating competition on Coney Island.
Kobayashi is also known for his trademark body wiggle, referred to by some as the "Kobayashi Shake", to force food down his esophagus
Esophagus
The esophagus is an organ in vertebrates which consists of a muscular tube through which food passes from the pharynx to the stomach. During swallowing, food passes from the mouth through the pharynx into the esophagus and travels via peristalsis to the stomach...
and settle more compactly in his stomach. He eats the hot dogs by splitting the frankfurter
Frankfurter
Frankfurter may refer to:* a hot dog* a sausage as made in Frankfurt* a resident of Frankfurt am Main, Germany* a resident of Frankfurt , GermanyFrankfurter is a German Jewish surname and may refer to:...
in half, dipping the buns in water, Sprite
Sprite (soft drink)
Sprite is a transparent, lemon-lime flavored , caffeine free soft drink, produced by the Coca-Cola Company. It was introduced in the United States in 1961. This was Coke's response to the popularity of 7 Up, which had begun as "Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda" in 1929...
, or 7-Up and then stuffing both parts in his mouth. He calls this the Solomon Method.
Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest
From 2001 to 2006, Kobayashi won Nathan's Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest an unprecedented six times in a row. He held the record for hot dogs eaten in the competition from his first appearance until 2007, when current record holder Joey ChestnutJoey Chestnut
Joseph Christian "Jaws" Chestnut is an American competitive eater. The , engineering student is currently ranked first in the world by the International Federation of Competitive Eating...
claimed the first of five consecutive victories.
Annual results
| Year | Place | HDB's (hot dogs & buns) |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1st | 50* |
| 2002 | 1st | 50.5* |
| 2003 | 1st | 44.5 |
| 2004 | 1st | 53.5* |
| 2005 | 1st | 49 |
| 2006 | 1st | 53.75* |
| 2007 | 2nd | 63 |
| 20081 | 2nd | 59 |
| 2009 | 2nd | 64.5 |
| 2010 | DNC (contract dispute) | |
| 2011 | DNC** | |
Yellow = World record holder
1 Contest time reduced from 12 to 10 minutes.
Glutton Bowl
Kobayashi ate 31 hot-dogs in the hot dog eating round, putting him into the finals. For the final round of the Glutton BowlGlutton Bowl
The Glutton Bowl was a two-hour Fox Network eating special in 2002 sanctioned by the International Federation of Competitive Eating. The special, which was co-executive produced by Nash Entertainment and IFOCE co-founder Richard Shea, featured Mark Thompson and IFOCE co-founder George Shea as...
, the contestants had to eat a bowl of brains. Kobayashi won with a finished plate of 55 brains.
- 2001: Glutton BowlGlutton BowlThe Glutton Bowl was a two-hour Fox Network eating special in 2002 sanctioned by the International Federation of Competitive Eating. The special, which was co-executive produced by Nash Entertainment and IFOCE co-founder Richard Shea, featured Mark Thompson and IFOCE co-founder George Shea as...
Hot Dog Champion (31 Hot Dogs) - 2001: Glutton BowlGlutton BowlThe Glutton Bowl was a two-hour Fox Network eating special in 2002 sanctioned by the International Federation of Competitive Eating. The special, which was co-executive produced by Nash Entertainment and IFOCE co-founder Richard Shea, featured Mark Thompson and IFOCE co-founder George Shea as...
Main Event Champion (55 Brains)
Krystal Square Off
Krystal Square Off
The Krystal Square Off was the official World Hamburger Eating Championship, taking place in Chattanooga, Tennessee and as sanctioned by the International Federation of Competitive Eating...
World Hamburger Eating Championship until 2007, when he could not compete due to a recent wisdom tooth
Wisdom tooth
A wisdom tooth, in humans, is any of the usually four third molars. Wisdom teeth usually appear between the ages of 17 and 25. Most adults have four wisdom teeth, but it is possible to have fewer , or more, in which case they are called supernumerary teeth...
extraction. The 2007 winner was Joey Chestnut
Joey Chestnut
Joseph Christian "Jaws" Chestnut is an American competitive eater. The , engineering student is currently ranked first in the world by the International Federation of Competitive Eating...
, who ate 103 hamburgers. In 2009, Kobayashi regained his Krystal title with 93 hamburgers, winning by a 10-burger margin.
| Year | Place | Hamburgers |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 1st | 69 |
| 2005 | 1st | 67 |
| 2006 | 1st | 97 |
| 2008 | 3rd | 84 |
| 2009 | 1st | 93 |
Independence Day 2010 arrest
On June 28, 2010, Kobayashi announced he would not compete in the Nathan's Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Competition. The impasse was reportedly due to a Major League EatingMajor League Eating
Major League Eating is a franchise that sanctions professional competitive eating events and competitive eating television specials. The purported mission of Major League Eating is to maintain a safe environment for all events, while also seeking to create a dynamic and enjoyable fan experience...
's insistence that Kobayashi sign an exclusive contract with the organization that would prevent him from competing in contests not sanctioned by MLE.
On July 4, 2010, Kobayashi was in attendance at the Nathan's International Hot Dog Eating Contest, watching from the crowd. Wearing a black T-shirt that read "Free Kobi", Kobayashi mingled with the crowd, standing inside a police-barricaded pen just under the stage. After the competition ended, he slipped up the stage stairs and crashed the stage. Although he was initially ushered by security officers up to the stage, one security officer (thought to have been requested by George Shea), quickly ushered him offstage as he resisted vehemently, hanging on to the barricades and fences before being taken into custody. Though some witnesses reported that Kobayashi was attempting to congratulate the winner, Joey Chestnut
Joey Chestnut
Joseph Christian "Jaws" Chestnut is an American competitive eater. The , engineering student is currently ranked first in the world by the International Federation of Competitive Eating...
, co-host and Major League Eating
Major League Eating
Major League Eating is a franchise that sanctions professional competitive eating events and competitive eating television specials. The purported mission of Major League Eating is to maintain a safe environment for all events, while also seeking to create a dynamic and enjoyable fan experience...
President Richard Shea, stated that "[Kobayashi] tried to jump on stage during the awards ceremony to disrupt it." With the crowd chanting, "Free Kobi!" and "Let him eat! Let him eat!”, police handcuffed him. He was charged with resisting arrest, trespassing and obstructing governmental administration and spent the rest of the 4th of July in jail awaiting an appearance in Brooklyn Criminal Court.
Kobayashi's interpreter and publicist, Maggie James said he had originally gone in hopes to cheer on his fellow competitive eaters, but after arriving and the chanting from the fans, he was swooped onto the stage due to the excitement. She said "There's a contract dispute, they weren't giving him his freedom. It was unfair."
Kobayashi told reporters he had a sandwich and a glass of milk while being held. "I am very hungry," he said. "I wish there were hot dogs in jail."
On August 5, 2010 all charges against Kobayashi were dismissed by a judge in Brooklyn. Despite his record six consecutive victories in their annual event, Nathan's removed Kobayashi's image from their "Wall of Fame" in 2011.
2011 competing events
In 2011, Kobayashi was still barred from the annual Nathan's event due to the contract dispute. On July 4, he competed on the rooftop of a Manhattan bar, 230 Fifth, for the duration of the Coney Island contest. Two judges observed Kobayashi while the live broadcast of the event played next to him on a large television screen. Kobayashi finished 69 hot dogs, one more than the recognized world record and seven more than Chestnut's winning total in the 2011 contest. "I want to remain free to compete in the events that I want to compete in," Kobayashi said. "Today was a great success." Informed of the number, Major League Eating president George Shea snapped, “The champion of the world is crowned in Coney Island. Always has been, always will be. He put a tin crown on his head and called himself king.” However, the sports website DeadspinDeadspin
Deadspin is a sports website owned by Gawker Media and was launched in September 2005. As of February 2010, the site had attracted over 462 million unique visitors and about 573 million page views....
deemed Kobayashi's solo appearance "an improbably perfect 'up yours'" to the Nathan's hot dog eating contest."