📍Kofu, Yamanashi, Japan
1977 – 1995“Hidetoshi Nakata was born in January 1977 in Kofu, the capital of Yamanashi prefecture, a city in a mountain basin west of Tokyo, ringed by peaks and with views of Mount Fuji, known for its vineyards and fruit orchards. He grew up there with his family, and began playing football at about eight, in the third grade, when the J.League did not yet exist and football was far less popular in Japan than baseball. He played for the Hokushin Boys Soccer Club and for Kofu Kita Junior High School, and was a clever, independent, determined boy who thought deeply about the game. He went to Nirasaki High School, near Kofu, whose football club was not strong enough to compete in the national championship, but his talent was noticed regardless, and in 1992 he was selected for Japan's youth squad. He played at the Under-17 World Cup in 1993 and the youth championships that followed, and many J.League clubs wanted to sign him. In 1995, at eighteen, he chose Bellmare Hiratsuka, about 120 kilometres from Kofu, and he quickly became one of Japan's best players. After starring at the 1998 World Cup, he moved to Perugia in Italy, and won the league title with Roma in 2001. He was named Asian Footballer of the Year twice. He retired at only twenty-nine, after the 2006 World Cup, and travelled the world, later promoting Japanese crafts and sake. He even appeared as himself in the famous football manga Captain Tsubasa.”
🗺️ Approximate location today
📍 Street view today