What is his estimated current net worth? Is he still actively involved in stock trading?

Okay, let's talk about this legend known in Japan as the "J-Com Man" – Takashi Ogoteka (online alias B.N.F). His story truly is a myth in the minds of many investors.

How Much is He Actually Worth?

Honestly, no one knows the exact figure. He has kept an extremely low profile, virtually disappearing from the public eye since 2008.

However, we can make a reasonable estimate based on known information:

1. The last official data: On a TV program around 2008 (his last public appearance), he stated his assets were ¥21.8 billion. That was the result of roughly 8 years of trading, starting from just ¥1.6 million he'd saved from part-time work in 2000.

2. What happened after?: Over a decade has passed since 2008. During this period, the Japanese stock market experienced a major bull market known as "Abenomics."

   • To put it simply: even if he did absolutely nothing after 2008 and just invested that over ¥20 billion in something like an index fund tracking the overall market, it's perfectly reasonable that the amount could have doubled or even tripled by now.
   • Therefore, many estimate his current asset size to be, conservatively, over ¥40 billion, with more optimistic guesses reaching ¥90 billion or even higher.

In short:

• Documented figure: ¥21.8 billion (equivalent to over 1 billion RMB, but that's outdated by over a decade)
• Current reasonable estimate: Most likely in the hundreds of billions of yen. The precise number is probably known only to him and his tax accountant.

This is wealth on a scale unimaginable to ordinary people, more akin to a large company's market capitalization.

Is He Still Trading Stocks?

Again, there's no 100% definitive answer, but various clues suggest the following:

• He's no longer a "day trader": It's widely known he sky-rocketed through hyper-short-term day trading. However, when someone's capital reaches tens or hundreds of billions of yen, this strategy becomes impossible. Just imagine, the sheer size of one trade could move the price of a stock, making the nimble entry and exit of the past impossible.

• Shift in investment strategy: He himself mentioned in interviews that as his assets grew, his investment style shifted towards medium to long-term value investing. He spends significant time researching company financials to find undervalued "bargains" (so-called value stocks), buys them in large quantities, and holds them long-term.

• Shift into real estate investment: This is his clearest current trajectory.

  • In 2008, he spent approximately ¥9 billion to buy a commercial building in Tokyo's Akihabara district (Chomp Chomp Akihabara).
  • In 2011, he spent around ¥17 billion to buy a building called "Shibuya Central Building" in Shibuya Ward.

  (This is the Akihabara building he bought - rent collection alone brings in an astronomical amount)

So, the conclusion is:

He most likely still engages in stock trading, but no longer resembles the "trader" we imagine, staring at screens with heart-pumping intensity daily. His role has evolved more into that of an ultra-high-net-worth investor or perhaps a private investment firm owner.

His main focus now has probably become:

1. Managing his gigantic stock portfolio, making long-term adjustments (portfolio rebalancing).
2. Overseeing his real estate assets, enjoying stable rental income.

You could say he has transformed from an "offensive player" chasing extreme returns into a "defensive player" prioritizing asset preservation and stable appreciation. This is a very natural and intelligent transition for anyone who has amassed enormous wealth.