Japan's all-star speed eater suffers professional injury

[revnecro1273]

Japan's all-star speed eater suffers professional injury Mon Jun 25, 9:00 AM ET



TOKYO (AFP) - A Japanese man who set a world record by wolfing down dozens of hot dogs within minutes has suffered a severe jaw injury due to his rigorous training, making his next title uncertain.

Takeru "Tsunami" Kobayashi said he can only open his mouth to make a gap the size of a fingertip after being diagnosed with jaw arthritis.

In an entry on his blog entitled "Occupational hazard," Kobayashi said: "My jaw refused to fight any more."

The injury occurred only a week after the slender 29-year-old started training to win his seventh straight title at the annual July 4 Nathan's Famous hot dog eating event on New York's Coney Island.

"I feel ashamed that I couldn't notice the alarm bells set off by my own body," he said. "But with the goal to win another title with a new record, I couldn't stop my training so close to the competition.

"I was continuing my training and bearing with the pain but finally I destroyed my jaw."

Kobayashi, who has become a niche celebrity in Japan and the United States, had already halted his competitive eating activities for several months due to mourning after his mother's death earlier this year.

But he said he still wanted to go to the competition in New York.

"I want to be the pride of my mother," he said in the blog entry posted Sunday.

Last year, Kobayashi put down a world-record 53 and three-quarters hot dogs in just 12 minutes.

In addition to the Nathan's Famous titles, he holds world records for scoffing cows' brains and rice balls.

In 2004, he founded the United Food Fighters Organisation in hopes of making people take competitive eating seriously as a sport.

Despite Japanese people's reputation as moderate eaters, Kobayashi helped to turn competitive eating into a television sensation with "food fighters" downing everything from sushi to cakes.

But Japanese television began to shy away from such contests after a 14-year-old junior high school student choked to death in 2002 trying to imitate competitive eating during school lunch.

[jaypasco]

i had this happen to me one time back in 92 after I consecutivly ate 4 bags of skittles. it took me about 3 weeks to recover.

[Jahred]

[dave nz]

I had a "gut feeling" Chestnut would be too good this year, too bad Bookmakers have now suspended betting.

[WildKat]

If anyone gets "inside" info to his up to the minute status, please share.......I have him on my fantasy team.

[Keith]

his gay porn career is in jeopardy as well.

Cat is going to be very disappointed with this news.

[Gerk]

Jaypasco now +300

Good value pick, I think

[dave nz]

"Takeru "Tsunami" Kobayashi said he can only open his mouth to make a gap the size of a fingertip after being diagnosed with jaw arthritis."

Must be pretty rare to get arthritis in the jaw. Joking aside must not be nice, wish him well.

[revnecro1273]

Originally Posted by dave nz

"Takeru "Tsunami" Kobayashi said he can only open his mouth to make a gap the size of a fingertip after being diagnosed with jaw arthritis."

Must be pretty rare to get arthritis in the jaw. Joking aside must not be nice, wish him well.

he can cope...he is north asian...don't need a big mouth to eat soup and rice