Takeru Kobayashi Hopes to Compete at Nathan's Hot Dog Contest

(AFP) - Japanese former world hot dog-eating champion Takeru "Tsunami" Kobayashi hopes to compete in this year's July 4 contest in New York, despite a contract dispute with the organizer, AFP reported Friday.

The July 4 Independence Day contest in New York "holds a very special place in my heart," the 32-year-old said in an interview with Japanese website Kyodo News.

Kobayashi, who emigrated to the United States in March, said he was confident about winning this year's contest because moving to New York allowed him to train with "authentic" hot dogs.

"I really want to compete in the event but I cannot agree to the conditions," he said, referring to an exclusivity clause stipulated by the event's organizer, the International Federation of Competitive Eating.

The provision would prevent him from participating in future competitive eating events without its permission, Kobayashi said.

The organizer oversees many eating contests open to the general public, but requires professional eaters such as Kobayashi to sign a contract to participate.

Recently the body said contract negotiations with Kobayashi reached an impasse, but added it "remains hopeful that Kobayashi ... will decide to compete."

Kobayashi won the hot dog-scoffing competition for six years in a row from 200, but finished second in 2007, 2008 and 2009 after being out-porked by fierce rival American Joey "Jaws" Chestnut.

Last year, Chestnut defeated 18 other eaters by scoffing down 68 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes; an all-time record according to the federation.

The eating contest is held each year on the Independence Day holiday at Coney Island in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Contestants must eat the largest number of hot dogs, buns included, in 10 minutes, without vomiting.

This year a total cash prize of $20,000 is up for grabs, the federation said.

(This article is provided by NewsCore, which aggregates news from around News Corporation.)