I think many people think competitive eating is a really disgusting sport, so people think they look bad normally. But I care about what I'm wearing. I don't want to be someone who is doing something that is considered gross and then also look like a slob.

Takeru Kobayashi

[H]uman beings...make a limit in their mind of what their potential is. They decide, "I've been told this," or "this is what society tells me," or they've been made to believe something. If every human being actually threw away those thoughts...the potential of human beings is great, it's huge, compared to what they actually think of themselves.

Takeru Kobayashi

mind believe thinking

One cannot be betrayed if one has no people.

Takeru Kobayashi

stupidity usual people

Stimulation-wise, I might be a little bit addicted when it comes to pushing my body to extremes.

Takeru Kobayashi

pushing wise might

Food fighters in Japan think of themselves as athletes. They have a higher recognition of the game and are constantly thinking about records. I probably won't continue for long because it puts pressure on the body. But I am at the age where I can perform my best.

Takeru Kobayashi

japan athlete thinking

I basically go to the gym three times a week to do weight training for one or two hours.

Takeru Kobayashi

training weight two

I know that I have a special stomach.

Takeru Kobayashi

stomach special knows

You have to have a lot of respect for hot dogs. It's completely different from sandwich. First of all, the hot dog is American. Sandwiches are not American. They're different. Second of all, a hot dog is like a pop idol. Hot dogs are cute. It's a pop image - everyone knows what a hot dog is.

Takeru Kobayashi

dog hot cute

I'm always like that about everything. When I try to do something, I always think, "What is the best way to do this?" Instead of taking what everyone else says and how it has been forever, it's faster for me to try myself. Of course I listen to what everybody says, and at first I'll try what people say, but I always come back to trying it my way.

Takeru Kobayashi

forever people thinking

I've been living in New York City almost seven years, and my mentality has changed a lot. Just from being in New York this long and going across America, I realize that in New York, nobody really cares. They are just like, "We're New Yorkers." I feel like that is really the way it should be.

Takeru Kobayashi

realizing care long

I'm not really interested in anyone's record or anyone - I'm always fighting with myself. I always try to do my best.

Takeru Kobayashi

fighting trying

I just grill chicken and make very simple cuisine.

Takeru Kobayashi

chicken make just simple

People think that if you have a huge appetite, then you'll be better at it. But actually, it's how you confront the food that is brought to you. You have to be mentally and psychologically prepared.

Takeru Kobayashi

think you food people

I've been to the Empire State Building with four friends, and it was very beautiful at that time around midnight.

Takeru Kobayashi

friends building time beautiful

When I was a kid, I wanted to be a baseball player.

Takeru Kobayashi

kid player baseball wanted

I realized crime isn't the only way you can judge people. People can do good things, and people can do bad things. It's probably better to understand people for the good things they do.

Takeru Kobayashi

good you good-things people

I was able to participate in New York Fashion Week and walk down the runway. I participated in a pizza contest in Canada.

Takeru Kobayashi

walk down pizza fashion

About three months before a contest, I drink a lot of water. I start to drink a lot of water.

Takeru Kobayashi

start drink three water

I just want to compete and do what I love.

Takeru Kobayashi

compete just want love

The one thing that's broken inside of me is that I've lost the signal most people have to feel hungry or feel full.

Takeru Kobayashi

feel me broken people

I could easily go one or two days without realizing that I'm so, so hungry. That's the negative outcome of what I've become.

Takeru Kobayashi

without go hungry negative