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CNN Live Today

Japanese Man Becomes Top Dog in Eating Contest

Aired July 04, 2002 - 12:27   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Now a holiday tradition, not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach. CNN's Maria Hinojosa joins us from Coney Island, where they have downed the dogs as fast as they could. And we saw the winning moment just a moment ago, Maria, and kind of its aftermath as well.

MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, believe it or not, there has been a world record set at the International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Takero Kobayashi has beat his own world record, 50 and a half hot dogs in 12 minutes. Takero, you have an extraordinary technique, two hotdogs at the same time. How do you hold it all down?

TAKERO KOBAYASHI, HOT DOG EATING CONTEST WINNER (through translator): The trick is to bring it in in small pieces.

HINOJOSA: But he also, one of the things that Takero does is that he takes the hot dogs and stuffs the buns literally, takes them and stuffs them in the back of his mouth.

KOBAYASHI: The trick is to get the buns wet and then it just goes right down.

HINOJOSA: Goes right down, not necessarily. How do you feel? Do you think that next year you'll be able to beat this? There was an extraordinary amount of heat. Do you think next year you'll be able to beat 50 and a half?

KOBAYASHI: It would be much easier if it was cool and cloudy, but whatever conditions exist, he'll do his best.

HINOJOSA: OK, well thank you very much Takero, the reigning champion.

We should give you information about the other two who placed in second place was Eric Booker (ph) with 26 and a half. In third place, Oleg Zernitski (ph), 25 and a half. That means that Takero is able to basically eat twice as many hotdogs as any of these guys.

As you can see, the women have come from Japan just to see this competition. He has a huge fan base. He's quite a star in Japan. He's not only an international hot dog eater champion, but he's also known in Japan as being one of the best food fighters is what they call them in Japan, eating sushi, noodles, and steak. It's extraordinarily hot. That must have had some kind of an impact on many of the other contestants here. But for today, here at Coney Island, our very first interview for CNN with Takero Kobayashi, the reigning hot dog eating champ in the world. It's been a fun day in Coney Island. So far, everybody is happy, no problems yet, just a lot of hot dogs -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Oh, boy. All right, so he is literally the top dog, Maria. So, does this guy make this journey to Coney Island, to the U.S., just for this...

HINOJOSA: Oh, I'm sorry...

WHITFIELD: ... a hot dog eating contest?

HINOJOSA: I can't hear anything that you're saying, Fredricka. I'll just send it back to you. Thanks anyway.

WHITFIELD: All righty. All right, thanks a lot. Maria Hinojosa, Coney Island, with the reigning hot dog eating champion. Oh, boy. All right. Well, it's a Fourth of July tradition, so, you know, we had to show to you.

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