Rona Conti, the mother of Crazy Legs, has just returned from Japan and submitted a comment on the Japanese competitive eating scene (or lack thereof). I have converted that comment into this post to make sure it receives the attention it deserves. Her comment follows:

While I know a great deal more about Japanese calligraphy than the Japanese Competitive Eating scene, having just returned from three months in Japan, I have some current information. The wanko soba noodle contest is, I believe, unrelated to “contemporary” competitive eating. If you Google “wanko soba” you will find that it relates to a part of the Japanese “food culture” in a specific region. I believe that one of the many many contests in the past in which Kobayashi and the “Food Fighters” participated was indeed wanko soba, but that is the extent of its’ significance. It is comparable to pie eating contests at “local” fairs. I am, of course, always very happy to be corrected.

As far as the competitive eating scene in Japan, it is, for the most part, moribund. Several years ago a middle school student who was imitating the “Food Fighters”, choked, went into a coma for several months, and died. At that time all of the extremely popular television programs and accompanying tours, magazine articles etc. ended. Thus it was that Kobayashi-san, Arai-san, Akasaka-san and the other competitors suddenly did not have the sponsorship of Tokyo television. While the Food Fighters tried on their own to continue, the FFA is now also, I believe, defunct.

Very recently there aired a new weekly television program in Japan. The “host” was Shirota-san for a few programs followed recently by a young woman. A friend will be sending to me the tapes of the programs so more information, if you wish, will follow.

However, it is my opinion that the history of competitive eating will follow the history of art. The center of the art world was Paris until the Abstract Expressionists, those brash Americans, exploded on the art scene after World War II. Suddenly the center became New York and remains so today. So it will be with competitive eating.

For many many reasons, I do not believe that the popularity and accompanying competitive eating contests in Japan will be repeated; nor will sponsorship come from Japan to the United States. Thus, past programs and performances by Japanese are all the more important to study. The Zen method may not be the whole story, but its’ American equivalent is Hungry and Focused. Eat All You Can.

Crazy Legs Mom

many many reasons I do not believe there will be a “repeat” of the Japanese competitive eating scene.

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