When Tareku Kobayashi took to the rooftop of 230 Fifth this weekend to compete live via satellite with the Major League Eating-sanctioned hot dog inhalers at Coney Island, an ecstatic crowd cheered him on to a world-record breaking victory of 69 dogs in 10 minutes. But it seemed just a little too convenient that the previous record, held by Kobayashi's arch-nemesis Joey Chestnut, was 68, and now, some are calling into question the validity of Kobayashi's feat.
Video: Hot Dog Scandal: How Many Did Kobayashi Really Eat?
Video: Kobayashi Breaks World Hot Dog Record, But Does It Count?
Joey Chestnut won the official Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island yesterday with a whopping 62 dogs in ten minutes—no doubt an impressive feat, but not enough to beat his own 2009 world record of 68 dogs. No, that distinction goes instead to blacklisted Japanese competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi, who ate 69 dogs from the rooftop lounge of 230 Fifth. But what does it all mean?!
"Free Man" Kobayashi Talks Hot Dogs And Spending The Night In Jail
Blacklisted competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi spoke today, shedding some light on his ongoing battle with Major League Eating and describing his night in jail after bumrushing the stage at last year's Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.
Kobayashi Will Eat Entire Thanksgiving Turkey Today
All of us were told at some point in elementary school about the historical context of Thanksgiving: give thanks, blah blah blah, but soon we realized the truth. On Thanksgiving, we sit at a table with family and friends and eat until our jeggings don't fit anymore. Today competitive hot dog eater Takeru Kobayashi, takes the overeating tradition to a whole new level. Just 11 days after he failed to break the Guinness Record for pizza eating, Kobayashi will attempt a new challenge; he will eat an entire turkey by himself. (Who says the holidays are all about sharing?)
Kobayashi Returns as "Sponsor Exempt" Contestant
After last year's Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, six-time world hot-dog-eating champ Takeru Kobayashi declared: "I will definitely beat him next year." His opponent, Joey Chestnut, had won by eating 66 HDB (hot dogs and buns) to Kobayashi's 63. Despite not earning his way in to the contest as a regional qualifier, last year's loser be on hand this year in an attempt to earn back the title.

