Japan Times on Japanese overseas competitors
The Japan Times has an article about Japanese competitors who do well in contests outside Japan. Kobayashi is mentioned in addition to air guitarists, yo-yo performers, tango dancers and others.
Most famously, of course, is Mr. Takeru Kobayashi, known as “The Tsunami” for his ability to engulf hot dogs. For six solid years in a row, Mr. Kobayashi ate the most hot dogs at the annual Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, New York.
Chomping down hot dogs cannot really compare to the skill and talent of playing Tchaikovsky, and is clearly not a long-term career choice, but there are few in Japan who did not feel a twinge of disappointment when reading that Joey “Jaws” Chestnut beat Mr. Kobayashi at this year’s contest. National pride could perhaps never be firmly based on “competitive eating,” but there are much worse sources of pride, after all.
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