When people talk about legends of the stock market, names like Warren Buffett, George Soros, or Ray Dalio often come to mind. But in Japan, there is one man who has earned the title of the God of Trading. His real name is Takashi Kotegawa, but the world knows him by his trading nickname BNF. He is not a hedge fund manager handling billions of dollars for others; he is a self-made trader who built his fortune trading from a small apartment in Tokyo. His story is not only inspirational but also full of lessons for anyone interested in trading and financial markets.
The Humble Beginning of BNF:
Takashi Kotegawa was not born into wealth. He grew up in Osaka, Japan, working small jobs in restaurants and other places while finishing his studies. What set him apart was his obsession with stock charts. Even when he was working part-time, he spent hours studying price movements and candlestick patterns. This obsession would later make him a household name in Japan’s trading community.
The Japanese market of the 1990s was not easy to trade. Unlike India or the United States, where markets boomed during certain periods, Japan faced what is known as the “Lost Decade,” where markets declined for years without recovery. While most people stayed away from trading, Kotegawa decided that this was exactly where he would make his career.
The Origin of His Famous Name BNF:
The name BNF has become iconic in the Japanese trading world. It came from Kotegawa’s admiration for an American hedge fund manager, Victor Niederhoffer. Inspired by a documentary about him, Kotegawa took the initials B, N, and F to create his trading alias. Over time, BNF became synonymous with success, resilience, and mastery of the Japanese stock market.
The First Strategy That Changed Everything:
Kotegawa started trading around the year 2000 with just $13,600. His first real trading breakthrough came from a very simple but effective strategy. He used the 25-day moving average to identify opportunities. If a stock fell more than 20% below its 25-day moving average, he would take a long trade, betting on a bounce back.
This might sound risky, but Kotegawa had a unique way of managing these trades. Instead of blindly buying after a fall, he carefully looked for price confirmation before entering. This meant waiting for signs of recovery, ensuring that he did not catch a stock that was still falling. Within two years of starting, his small $13,600 account had grown to over $1 million.
From $1 Million to $10 Million:
Success often comes to those who refine their strategies. Kotegawa did exactly that. He noticed that markets sometimes fall much more than 20% before bouncing back especially during big crashes. So, he adapted his strategy to different sectors and market conditions, sometimes waiting for 25%, 45%, or even 60% corrections before entering trades.
This flexibility allowed him to capture massive profits in a declining Japanese market. Between 2000 and 2003, he turned his $1 million into $10 million, cementing his place as one of the most successful retail traders in Japan.
The Legendary JCOM Trade:
If there is one trade that made BNF a legend, it was the JCOM trade in 2005. Due to a trading error, a broker mistakenly placed a massive sell order on JCOM shares, sending the stock price crashing down. While most traders panicked, BNF recognized the opportunity and bought aggressively. When the stock corrected itself, he walked away with millions in profit.
This trade made him famous across Japan and earned him the nickname JCOM Man. Even today, traders around the world reference this as one of the most iconic trades in modern history.
Facing the 2008 Financial Crisis:
Every trader faces setbacks, and even BNF was not immune. In 2008, during the global financial crisis, he made one of his biggest mistakes. Believing Lehman Brothers was too big to fail, he invested $6.5 million in the bank’s stock after it fell 70%. Unfortunately, Lehman collapsed, and his entire investment went to zero.
For most traders, this kind of loss would have ended their careers. But BNF did not quit. Instead, he returned to the Japanese market and doubled down on his strategy. In October 2008, he made a daring move by investing $64 million in the Nikkei Index at its lowest point. Within days, as the market bounced, he earned over $100 million in profits, once again proving his resilience.
Lessons from BNF’s Strategy:
BNF’s journey is full of lessons for traders around the world:
Discipline matters more than luck. He studied charts religiously and trusted his strategy even in uncertain times.
Adaptability is key. Instead of sticking to one rigid rule, he adjusted his entry points depending on market conditions.
Resilience separates winners from losers. Even after losing millions, he had the courage to keep trading and eventually recovered bigger than before.
Trade with your own money. Unlike hedge fund managers, BNF only traded his personal funds. This gave him complete freedom and also made his success even more impressive.
Diversification Beyond Trading:
After his trading success, BNF diversified into real estate and cryptocurrencies. He invested in Bitcoin early and also bought properties in Japan. This diversification helped him secure his wealth beyond the volatile stock market.
Interestingly, despite his massive wealth, BNF continues to live a modest lifestyle. He once rejected an offer from Masayoshi Son, the billionaire founder of SoftBank, because he preferred staying independent. This shows that for BNF, trading is not just about money; it’s about passion, freedom, and discipline.
Why is BNF called the God of Trading?
BNF is respected not just because of the wealth he created, but because of how he created it. Unlike institutional investors, he had no powerful backers, no team of analysts, and no billions in starting capital. He began with just $13,600, relied purely on his skills, and grew it into a fortune worth hundreds of millions.
He proved that with the right mindset, patience, and adaptability, even an ordinary person can rise to extraordinary heights in the financial markets. That’s why in Japan, traders call him the God of Trading.
Final Thoughts:
The story of Takashi Kotegawa, or BNF, is more than just a success story it is a reminder of what is possible when obsession meets discipline. From waiting tables in Osaka to making hundred-million-dollar trades in Tokyo, his journey shows that anyone with dedication can master the markets.
For aspiring traders, his strategy of buying oversold stocks after confirmation remains a timeless lesson. But more than the technical details, the real takeaway is his mindset: never give up, always adapt, and stay humble even after extraordinary success.
In the end, BNF’s legacy is not just about money it is about proving that even in the toughest markets, greatness is possible. And that is why he will always be remembered as the God of Trading.
FAQs:
- Who is BNF, and why is he called the “God of Trading”?
BNF is the trading nickname of Takashi Kotegawa, a self-made Japanese trader who turned a small $13,600 investment into hundreds of millions of dollars. He earned the title “God of Trading” because of his remarkable discipline, adaptability, and ability to thrive in one of the toughest markets in the world, the Japanese stock market, without backing from institutions or hedge funds. - How did BNF start its trading journey?
BNF began with humble beginnings, working small jobs while studying in Osaka. Fascinated by stock charts, he started trading around 2000 with just $13,600. Using a strategy based on stocks falling significantly below their 25-day moving average, and confirming rebounds before entering, he quickly grew his account into over $1 million within two years. - What was BNF’s most famous trade?
His most legendary trade was the JCOM trade in 2005, when a broker’s error caused the stock to crash. While most traders panicked, BNF recognized the mistake and bought aggressively. When the stock corrected, he made millions in profit. This single trade made him a household name in Japan and earned him the nickname “JCOM Man.” - Did BNF ever face major losses?
Yes. In 2008, during the financial crisis, he lost $6.5 million by investing in Lehman Brothers, believing the bank was too big to fail. Despite this setback, he rebounded by making a bold $64 million investment in the Nikkei Index at its bottom, earning over $100 million in profit. His resilience after losses is one of the key reasons he is admired. - What lessons can traders learn from BNF’s strategy?
BNF’s journey teaches that discipline, adaptability, and resilience are more important than luck. He studied charts obsessively, adjusted strategies based on market conditions, and never gave up after failures. He also emphasized trading with personal funds, valuing independence over institutional backing. His story proves that even ordinary traders can achieve extraordinary success with the right mindset.
