Kobayashi Launches Digital Platforms, Sets World Record & Serves NY's Impoverished on Thanksgiving

Nov. 25, 2011 - PRLog -- New York, NY -  On Wednesday evening, Takeru Kobayashi set a world record consuming 7.50 pounds of turkey Thanksgiving Eve before a live audience at Turtle Bay in New York City, as witnessed by third-party officiates RecordSetter.com and SB Nation Senior Correspondent Amy K. Nelson.  The event kicked off Kobayashi's launch of his Facebook fan page (http://Facebook.com/KobiEats)  and his UStream channel (http://UStream.tv/KobiEats), both of which carried the record setting performance live to thousands across the globe.

Said RecordSetter.com Co-Founder and President Dan Rollman:

"Kobayashi ate 7.5 pounds of turkey in 10 minutes, a new RecordSetter World Record.  It was a true thrill watching the world's greatest eater at the top of his game. He didn't just beat the existing world record -- he annihilated it.   Never in my life have I witnessed food disappear like that. The man is a true culinary Houdini.  We welcome Kobayashi into the RecordSetter.com community and can't wait to work with him again in the future."

At the event, Kobayashi announced his intent to travel the country, meet new fans and explore new foods, while raising awareness for anti-hunger initiatives.

Yesterday, on Thanksgiving Day, Kobayashi joined the likes of actor Stephen Baldwin and Chef Mario Batali in serving the less fortunate at New York City's Bowery Mission's Thanksgiving Day Banquet.

"It's my intent to use my unique talent to help those less-fortunate than me.  I consider myself blessed and never for once take that for granted," said Kobayashi.  "That is what this holiday is all about."

Since the launch of the UStream channel less than 48 hours ago, over 70,000 people have watched the record setting feat in between their travel, holiday meals, and Black Friday shopping sprees.

Official scoring breakdown from RecordSetter:

"The first turkey + platter weighed 10.25 pounds before the attempt, and 4.625 pounds after, meaning Takeru Kobayashi ate 5.625 pounds of the first turkey.

The second turkey + platter weighed 8 pounds before the attempt, and 6.125 pounds after, meaning Takeru Kobayashi ate 1.875 pounds of the second turkey.

Adding 5.625 pounds of the first turkey and 1.875 pounds of the second turkey, Takeru Kobayashi ate a total of 7.5 pounds within the 10 minute time limit, a new world record."

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RecordSetter.com is the new home of world records. It hosts over 10,000 world records sent in from 60+ countries, and has the largest collection of world record videos on the Internet. Its core belief is that everyone can be the world's best at something. The New Yorker says it's "a Web site that is to the Guinness World Records as Wikipedia is to the Encyclopaedia Britannica." Their first book, The RecordSetter Book of World Records, was released just two weeks ago and is available in bookstores everywhere.

The RecordSetter Council, known for its trademark yellow jackets, has moderated over 500 world record attempts across the US, Canada and Australia, including appearances on CNN, Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, The Tyra Banks Show, CBS Sunday Morning, ABC World News, and Good Morning America.

Amy K. Nelson is an award-winning journalist who currently serves as Senior Correspondent for SB Nation and is a soon-to-be maker of YouTube television network magic.  Formerly, she covered major league baseball for ESPN.com as part of the site’s Enterprise team. Born and raised on the north shore of Massachusetts and a graduate of Hampshire College, Nelson has been covering professional sports for close to 10 years. She also served as a moderator for ESPN’s First Take program, chatting with fans online and relaying their comments live on the show, and has appeared on SportsCenter, ESPNews, Baseball Tonight and Outside The Lines.