BEIJING: A “big stomach” eater from China has sparked a backlash after devouring pricey seafood at a buffet in Japan, with netizens describing his behaviour as disrespectful.
Deng Chenen, 25, from eastern China’s Zhejiang province, is known for his intense workouts, massive appetite, and slow eating style.
He has attracted 4.3 million followers on social media, though his income remains undisclosed.
Deng once polished off 25kg of king crabs in a single sitting, and ate 35 burgers and 30 chicken drumsticks in about four hours.
His girlfriend, Wu Ting, is also a competitive eater. She once took second place in an eating contest in Japan by finishing 21 bowls of noodles in 45 minutes.
On April 9, Deng shared a video of his trip to a Tokyo buffet with his girlfriend.
He claimed he worked out for eight hours that day just to “eat to the fullest”.
At the restaurant, Deng loaded up on premium items such as salmon, king crabs, shrimp, Wagyu beef, and an entire tray of cheesecake, saying he “only takes the expensive stuff”.
Two diners tried to stop him, but he dismissed their concerns, telling his companion: “They are not happy with me, but that is not my problem.”
Deng skewered dozens of pieces of salmon, filled his plate with other seafood, and said while eating: “I do not think any other diner will get to eat salmon today.”
A member of staff reminded him not to waste food. He did not understand Japanese but kept replying “OK”.
One netizen estimated the food Deng consumed was worth 50,000 to 80,000 yen (US$350 to US$550), while the buffet costs 12,000 yen (US$85) per person for a two-hour limit.
In the video, Deng said he finished everything he took. The clip has received over 350,000 likes.
However, his behaviour and repeated use of derogatory terms for Japanese people sparked outrage from Chinese viewers.
“This is incredibly selfish! It ruins the experience for other diners,” one online observer wrote.
“Deng’s behaviour is an embarrassment to Chinese tourists. Extreme nationalism should not be celebrated,” said another.
Another online observer said: “The restaurant has the right to report Deng for disrupting its business.”
As of writing, Deng has yet to respond to the negative comments online.
A nutritionist surnamed Chen from Sichuan province in southwestern China warned that binge eating can cause visceral fat build-up and raise the risk of diabetes, heart problems, and digestive issues.
“Competitive eating is not a talent. It is an extreme form of self-harm to gain online traffic,” Chen said, adding that a healthy lifestyle depends on balanced nutrition, portion control, and regular meals. - South China Morning Post/ANN
