Takashi Kotegawa

Reportedly exits the Akihabara building around ¥12 billion after a decade of rent, pushing estimated wealth toward ¥30B+. Withdraws further from public view.

Largely leaves media; remains a private investor. Handle BNF becomes a global retail-trading legend.

Magazine and later profiles place peak liquid/trading wealth around ¥21.8 billion (~$150–200M) despite the Lehman hit.

Pays ~¥9 billion cash for Chomp Chomp Akihabara (later AKIBA Cultures ZONE), hedging trading size into rental real estate during the crisis.

Bets on a Lehman bailout that does not come; loses about ¥700 million. Later described punching and breaking two monitors — a rare public show of frustration.

Continued growth despite market volatility; among Japan’s best-known private traders.

Featured on TV (Gaia no Yoake). Continues large-cap swing trading as size forces longer holds.

Reported assets around ¥8 billion after the J-Com year; media attention intensifies while he stays reclusive.

Mizuho Securities mistakenly sells 610,000 J-Com shares at ¥1. BNF buys into the dislocation (often cited ~7,100 shares) and realizes on the order of ¥2–2.2 billion via the clearing settlement — nicknamed J-Com Man.

Crosses the ¥1 billion mark (~$10M). Roughly a 690× return from starting capital over ~4 years.

Portfolio expands as the Nikkei begins recovering; still trading primarily as an anonymous forum handle (BNF).

Continues compounding small-cap and bounce trades through a still-hostile Japanese equity market.

Bear-market mean-reversion / divergence trading grows the account to about ¥61 million (~$500k). Drops out of Nihon University law studies as opportunity cost rises.

Begins trading Japanese equities with roughly ¥1.6 million (~$13,600) saved from part-time work. Account reported near ¥2.8M by year-end.

Born in Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture, Japan.