The competitive eating world is already chewing on this bit of breaking news: The champ may not be able to chomp.

Takeru Kobayashi of Japan, the six-time champion of the annual Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, may be sidelined for next week's event by an arthritic jaw.

Takeru (the Tsunami) Kobayashi, shown during the 2006 Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Competition, is on the injured list with an arthritic jaw as this July's eat-off at Coney Island, N.Y., approaches.
(Seth Wenig/Associated Press)

Last year, the 165-pound Kobayashi won his sixth straight Yellow Mustard Belt at the Independence Day competition in Coney Island, N.Y., by devouring a world record 53¾ frankfurters in 12 minutes.

That mark was smashed earlier this month by Joey Chestnut of San Jose, Calif., who gobbled 59½ hot dogs and buns at the Southwest Regional Hot Dog Eating Championship at the Arizona Mills Mall in suburban Tempe, Ariz., — one of the qualifying events for Coney Island.

Chestnut nearly beat Kobayashi in 2006, downing 52 hot dogs and buns at the contest, which is sponsored by Nathan's Famous Inc.

But Kobayashi, 29, may not be able to defend his title. Earlier this week, he said on his website that his "jaw has abandoned the front line" during his training.

"Already I can't open my jaws more than just a little bit," he wrote. "There's no pain only if I open my mouth about enough for one finger. More than that is painful and I can't open it."

A specialist diagnosed him with arthritis of the jaw, he wrote.

"To tell the truth, I'm desperate about healing completely before the July 4 contest," he said, adding that he had begun receiving treatment at a hospital and from a chiropractor.

On Tuesday, his United Food Fighters Organization said on his website that Kobayashi has found a doctor he can trust and was "creating an environment in which he can dedicate himself to healing."

"The contest is coming up soon, and we'd happy if everyone kept him in their thoughts," the group wrote.