Who is Takeru Kobayashi and where is he now?
TAKERU Kobayashi is widely known as the competitive eater who popularized Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest.
In 2008, Joey Chestnut broke Takeru's six-time record, and now many want to know where the competitive eater is today.
Who is Takeru Kobayashi?
Born on March 15, 1978, in Nagano, Japan, Takeru Kobayashi is a well-known competitive eater.
As a six-time champion of Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, he has been described as "the godfather of competitive eating".
He has also been credited as one of the competitors who popularized the sport of competitive eating.
At his rookie appearance on July 4, 2001, he set his first record after eating 50 hot dogs in 12 minutes at Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest.
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After winning the contest on six consecutive occasions between 2001 and 2006, Takeru broke his own record three times.
Takeru lost to Joey Chestnut on July 4, 2008, after losing a sudden death five dog eat off where he finished second.
In 2010, Takeru faced a contract dispute with the organizers of Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, Major League Eating.
Speaking about his contract negotiations, Takeru told NY Daily News: "They want complete control over me. I just want to compete and do what I love. They are trying to take away my freedom."
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As a result of not signing with Major League Eating, he was banned from competing in Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating competition.
Where is Takeru Kobayashi now?
Takeru announced his retirement in the 2024 Netflix documentary Hack Your Health: The Secrets of Your Gut.
Per the New York Post, doctors discovered that his brain had been affected by eating highly processed foods.
As per the outlet, he said: "For the past 20 years, I have been in this field.
"I worry about the consequences of my decision, but most importantly, I want to repair my brain and gut."
Takeru spoke further about his health condition in the documentary, saying: "I hear people say they're hungry, and they look very happy after they've eaten.
"I'm jealous of those people because I no longer feel hunger."
His wife, Maggie, also chimed in on Takeru's health concerns, saying: "[He] thinks he might be broken.
"He doesn't feel hungry or full. He doesn't feel those things at all."
However, months after announcing his decision to call it quits on his career, Takeru announced he would be stepping out of retirement to compete against Joey Chestnut.
The two will go head-to-head in a live event in a Netflix Labor Day special titled Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef.
"Retiring for me will only happen after I take him down one last time," Takeru said via Bleacher Report.
"This rivalry has been brewing for a long time. Competing against Joey live on Netflix means fans all over the world can watch me knock him out."
This event will mark the first time the two champions face each other in 15 years.
Who is Takeru Kobayashi’s wife, Maggie James?
In addition to being Takeru's wife, Maggie James is his translator and manager.
The couple reportedly tied the knot in January 2017.
In addition to managing her husband, Maggie also showcases her trendy style through social media.
In January 2023, she had a pop-up dedicated to Vivienne Westwood at The Sight Room in Tokyo, Japan.
Celebrating their anniversary in 2023, Maggie shared a video with a series of photos of the two.
Her caption revealed she doesn't believe in marriage but is happy to have tied the knot with Takeru.
She also revealed the two don't have kids by choice.
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"We're getting old & we're still cool," the post read. "No kids by choice. Actually who am I kidding we're the moms & pops of many children all over.
"I don't even believe in marriage & I'm pleased to be hitched to your crazy a**. I prefer our harmless insanity to boredom any day."