Unlike Kevin Garnett, Takeru Kobayashi is not one to back down from a challenge. The 6-time Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest champion and the world record holder confirms he will return to Coney Island this July 4th to defend his crown.

Kobayashi has been suffering from a jaw ailment and there were strong indications he would skip out on this year’s event to heal the injury. Those reports sent shock waves through the hot dog eating community because American Joey Chestnut had eclipsed Kobayashi’s record of 53.75 hot dogs by woofing down 59.5 weiners in a recent competition. Chestnut had also pushed the Japanese champion to his limits during last year’s Independence Day event, before finally running out of steam…or saliva, whatever the case may be.

Many believed the jaw injury was a way for Takeru to skip out on the competition and keep his record intact. However, thanks to extensive rehabilitation and encouragement from supporters, Kobayashi will show up in the Big Apple and try to keep America from celebrating on its birthday. While medical experts doubt he can catch up with the new record, the pride of Nagano, Japan sounds like he relishes the challenge.

All kidding aside, if you’ve never seen one of these competitions, you don’t know what you’re missing. It is both fascinating and disgusting at the same time, as we reported after last year’s showdown between these two. If you can sneak away from your cookout for a few minutes on the 4th, check it out on ESPN.

You’ll never look at a hot dog the same way again!