Why did he choose to completely disappear from the public eye after gaining fame?
Okay, let's talk about the legendary figure in Japan known as the "J-Com God" — Takashi Kotegawa, also famously called B.N.F.
Why did he seem to vanish off the face of the earth after becoming so famous? This is actually quite understandable. Think about it from another angle: if you won the lottery jackpot, the kind worth billions, would you choose to appear on TV every day, hold press conferences, or would you prefer to stay anonymous and live your life quietly?
I suspect most people would choose the latter. Kotegawa's choice essentially followed the same logic. Specifically, the reasons are these:
1. He never sought fame in the first place
Takashi Kotegawa was first and foremost a pure trader, or perhaps, a "nerd." All his passion and energy were poured into researching the movements of the stock market. For him, making money was the goal, the result, and the measure of his technical skill.
Fame, however, was entirely an "accident." Especially during the "J-Com Incident" in 2005, when he made ¥2 billion yen (roughly 100 million yuan) in just over ten minutes due to a broker's fat-finger error, this event made him an overnight legend and was sensationally reported by the media.
But what about the man himself? He never wanted to be a star, an internet celebrity, or a financial guru. He was just an ordinary (yet extraordinary) young man sitting in his room, facing multiple computer screens, eating instant noodles, and studying candlestick charts. Fame was a nuisance to him, not an honor.
2. Fame is a "double-edged sword," and for him, the downsides outweighed the upsides
What happens when the public knows you are an extremely wealthy "individual investor"?
- Security Risks: Could you become a target? Kidnapping, extortion, scams... these are real threats. Maintaining a low profile and anonymity is the most effective way to protect oneself and one's assets.
- Endless Harassment: Countless people would want something from you. People asking for loans, soliciting investments, requesting charitable donations, demanding you share your "wealth formula"... All of this would severely disrupt his life and trading.
- Loss of Privacy: Journalists would swarm like flies. Your address, lifestyle habits, family members – everything would be scrutinized. For an introverted person who simply wanted to trade quietly, this would be an absolute nightmare.
Put simply, the benefits fame could bring him (like maybe vanity?) were things he fundamentally didn't care about. The drawbacks of fame, however, represented real, tangible trouble.
3. Focus was the core of his success
Day trading is a job requiring extreme concentration and composure. The market's volatility demands that traders be entirely focused and undistracted.
If he had chosen to remain active in the public eye, that would have meant spending huge amounts of time handling media interviews, attending various events, and managing his personal image. These social activities would have seriously drained his energy and impacted his trading state and judgment.
For him, ditching the "fame" byproduct was about preserving the main product: his success. He chose to continue doing what he was best at and most passionate about, rather than playing the role of a "stock god."
4. He had already "beaten the game"; there was no need to keep "performing"
Many people maintain their prominence after becoming famous to monetize that fame, for example:
- Writing books or creating paid courses
- Starting their own fund, managing others' money for management fees
- Doing endorsements, becoming a celebrity influencer, monetizing traffic
But Takashi Kotegawa had absolutely no need for any of that. The money he made from his own trading had already secured a level of financial freedom utterly unattainable for ordinary people over several lifetimes. He had already "beaten the game." The game was over. He had zero motivation to leverage his fame for anything further.
For him, the best choice was to take the money he'd earned and return to the lifestyle he was most comfortable with.
In summary
Therefore, Takashi Kotegawa's "disappearance" isn't some unsolved mystery; it was a very smart and rational deliberate choice.
He didn't "retire" in the traditional sense; he very likely remains to this day in some quiet corner, using his multi-screen setup, continuing the numbers game he loves. He simply retired from "public life".
He chose to return to the state he found most comfortable, safest, and where he could best apply his value: a top player focused solely on the market, not a public figure living under the spotlight.