<Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Hirofumi "The Black Hole of Kōfu" / "The Tokyo Terror" Nakajima </Td> <Td> 241⁄2 </Td> <Td> 12 min . </Td> <Td> Although Nathan's attempted to expand its pool of American contestants by sponsoring "a circuit of qualifying contests leading up to the grand finale on the Fourth," Japanese contestants continued to increase their influence . The contest was won by the reigning champion, a 135 - pound, 22 year old furniture delivery worker from Kōfu, Japan . The prizes were "a large emerald and brass trophy, a Mustard - Yellow International Belt, and a 20 - pack take - out order for Nathan's hot dogs ." 100 - pound, 30 year old future champion Kazutoyo Arai of Saitama, Japan was the runner - up and consumed 24 hot dogs . 330 - pound, 34 year old former champion Ed Krachie was the third - place finisher and consumed 20 hot dogs . 23 contestants participated . A press account from the time describes this as an annual contest held regularly since 1916 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> ONE - ON - ONE CHALLENGE WITH JAPAN Hirofumi "The Black Hole of Kōfu" / "The Tokyo Terror" Nakajima December 4 </Td> <Td> 231⁄4 </Td> <Td> 12 min . </Td> <Td> The contest was won by the reigning champion, a 300 - pound man from Queens . The prizes apparently included the bejeweled mustard - yellow belt and a trophy, if not more . Former champion Mike DeVito was the runner - up and consumed 20 hot dogs . 200 - pound, 42 year old Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa was also a contestant. 20 contestants participated . A press account from the time describes this as an annual contest held regularly since 1916, except for 1939, 1940, and 1941--this time held under the moniker "Battle of the Burroughs ." It should be noted that a later 1996 contest was also sponsored by Nathan's (and TV Tokyo), but was held at Central Park instead of at its traditional location . It was won by a 144 - pound, 22 year old man from Japan; he had never eaten a hot dog until the day before the competition . The prizes were the bejeweled mustard - yellow belt and $2,000 . 320 - pound, 33 year old mechanical engineer Ed Krachie of New York was the runner - up . Only those 2 contestants participated . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ed "The Animal" / "The Maspeth Monster" Krachie Independence Day </Td> <Td> 22 </Td> <Td> 12 min . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1995 </Td> <Td> Ed "The Animal" / "The Maspeth Monster" Krachie Independence Day </Td> <Td> 191⁄2 </Td> <Td> 12 min . </Td> <Td> The contest was won by a 350 - pound NYNEX engineer from Queens. 205 - pound, 33 year old Salomon Brothers vice president and reigning champion Mike DeVito of Manalapan Township, New Jersey was the runner - up and consumed 19 hot dogs . </Td> </Tr>

When does the hot dog eating contest start