Hidetoshi Nakata

“I retired not because I was tired of football, but I was tired of the business of football.”

“Every day I was training, but I felt my passion for the game was slowly fading.”

“To be a professional, you must be disciplined.”

“I never want to be a specialist. I want to be a generalist.”

“Life is a journey. If you fall in love with the journey, you will be in love forever.”

“I never felt that I was representing Japan. I was just representing myself.”

“Sake is not just a drink; it's a part of our culture, our history.”

“I decided to travel to get to know the real Japan, the culture.”

“I don’t want to be a football player who is just good at football. I want to be a person who is respected.”

“I don't look back. I'm always looking forward.”

“For me, fashion is not about brands. It's about style and how you express yourself.”

“Football is not just a sport. It's a language, a culture.”

“I realized how little I knew about my own country. I was embarrassed.”