![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/IMG_43441-300x225.jpg\" "\\"IMG_4344\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nThis weekend Japan Society hosted the inaugural 12-hour extravaganza known as \u201cj-cation\u201d.\u00a0 The line-up of events was kicked off by the movie Flavor of Happiness (\u5e78\u305b\u306e\u9999\u308a or Shiawase n<\/em>o kaori<\/em>)<\/em>, the story of a father-daughter relationship between an aging Chinese chef and his young female apprentice.\u00a0 A bit long and sappy, but the food images were to die for!\u00a0 In various corners of Japan Society several workshops were simultaneously taking place, such as furoshiki<\/em> (wrapping cloth) folding, Japanese tea and sweets and calligraphy classes.\u00a0 There was also an assortment of stands with Japanese products, such as this outpost of (Kumamoto-born!) Dainobu convenience store selling sweets.<\/p>\n However, the highlight of my afternoon was the \u201cluscious lecture\u201d called Table Talk that featured Takeru \u201cThe 32-year old Kobayashi shared that he got his start as a college student, when his friends noticed that he could put away an insane amount of food and contacted the local media.\u00a0 Now competitive eating is his full-time career, and he participates in about 12 events a year.\u00a0 His favorite contest foods are soft, easily digestible ones such as tofu and curry rice (the latter was the food at his very first competition!).\u00a0 During the off season, his favorite foods to eat non-competitively are bagels, tofu and yogurt.<\/p>\n As pictured on the right, Kobayashi was outfitted in a sleek black jacket and scarf, ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/IMG_43471-225x300.jpg\" "\\"IMG_4347\\"")
<\/a>Tsunami\u201d Kobayashi.\u00a0 This hot dog eating champ, whose record is 50 in 12 minutes and who won the Coney Island competition for six years straight from 2001-06, revealed some of his secrets and back stories.\u00a0 The person who happened to be sitting in front of us for the talk was none other than Japan Society President Motoatsu Sakurai!\u00a0 He chatted with us for a bit, lovely as always, and judging by his frequent laughter he seemed to enjoy Kobayashi\u2019s talk as much as the rest of the audience.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/IMG_43841-225x300.jpg\" "\\"IMG_4384\\"")
<\/a>and this osshare<\/em> image was quite different from the typical one of the Coney Island champion with blond hair and bandana.\u00a0 In response to the question of what he would like to challenge archrival Joey Chestnut with should they ever meet at a contest in Japan, his answer was sushi or onigiri.\u00a0 When asked about his weight fluctuation, he said he was currently 130 pounds but could go as high as 200!<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/IMG_43762-300x225.jpg\" "\\"IMG_4376\\"")
<\/a>e audience wanted to see Kobayashi in action, demonstrating his famous hot dog halving and bun soaking technique (Fun fact: If he eats 60 hot dogs during a competition, they will be accompanied by two gallons of water!).\u00a0 He took on the two hosts (on left) who never stood a chance.\u00a0 He finished his hot dogs with time to spare and then helped them out with theirs.<\/p>\n