INTERVIEW: Legendary winner of Nathan’s hot dog contest relishes his memories
Photo: The Good, The Bad, The Hungry features the stiff competition between Takeru Kobayashi and Joey Chestnut in the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. Photo courtesy of ESPN Films / Provided by Sunshine Sachs with permission.
Takeru Kobayashi is a legend amongst competitive eaters. The native of Nagano, Japan, has eaten his way to success in many different competitions over the years, devouring everything from pizza to wings to tacos. However, it was his reign at the top of the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest that made Kobayashi the legend of speed noshing.
What Kobayashi and other contestants in the annual hot dog contest accomplish is slightly grotesque to the average person. The engorging of meat, buns and water at an almost dizzying speed is almost vomit-inducing, but Kobayashi is no average person. His Nathan wins were serious business and not a picnic in the park.
Now Kobayashi’s story of winning the hot dog contest an impressive and unprecedented six times in a row is the subject of ESPN’s latest 30 for 30 documentary. The Good, The Bad, The Hungry will debut July 2 at 8 p.m. on the sports network.
The film, directed by Nicole Lucas Haimes, focuses not only on Kobayashi’s rise to fame, but also how he was dethroned by Joey Chestnut, who defeated the champion in 2007 and went on to great successes himself.
Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Kobayashi. In this revealing interview he discusses competitive eating, the strategies he employed and what his favorite food contest has been. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
When did you realize you had a talent for eating contests?
After I had begun eating on a Japanese TV show, which was my first experience with competitive eating. Until then, I had never eaten as a sport, nor been able to visualize my abilities for this sort of thing.
You succeeded so many times in the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. What was your strategy?
My strategy was always my training and coming prepared. I just gave it my all every time.
I only focused on myself and my own pace and number. Sure there was the press and others making it a story around me, but truly when a competition would begin, I was just in my own head and didn’t pay the people next to me any mind.
When you were dethroned by Joey Chestnut, what went through your mind? Did it hurt to give up your championship?
Just that circumstances were that he won. I wasn’t hurt by someone else winning because I did what I could do best in my situation — the outcome of how I felt, always only depended on being satisfied with myself. If I had given it my best, it didn’t matter if I won or lost; it mattered that I could go home and still be proud of my own performance.
The first year I lost was the year my mother had died, and I had been under an extreme amount of stress, which led to me hurting my jaw badly before the competition began. I was very proud of my performance in those conditions and is still to this day, in my opinion, one of my best performances. I came in second place, when I had no idea if I could even make it through to the end. So I had no problem at all raising the winner’s arm for everyone to see. Only if you are honest and confident with yourself can you be happy for others.
Do you like hot dogs outside of competitive eating? What would be on your ideal hot dog? Mustard? Ketchup?
Yes, I still love a hot dog. It’s not the same thing as when in competition. I love mustard, with relish and onions.
Of all the competitive eating contests you’ve been in, what’s your favorite?
My favorite competition is The Gringo Bandito Chronic Taco Challenge. It was created in 2011 and is an amazing stage with top heavy weight eaters and always a neck-to-neck race. The rules are clean, and the vibe is awesome with an enormous crowd. Not to mention The Offspring playing a concert after the competition. What more could you want?!
Can one make a living as a competitive eater?
Yes.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
30 for 30: The Good, The Bad, The Hungry will premiere Tuesday, July 2 at 8 p.m. on ESPN. Click here for more information.
