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Hidetoshi Nakata, Special Olympics Global Ambassador

Hidetoshi Nakata

Global Ambassador

Born in Yamanashi Prefecture in 1977. Nakata played professional football for 8 years in Italy and England. He represented Japan in three consecutive World Cups and two Olympic Games as a member of the national football team.

After retiring in 2006 and traveling around the world, he became aware of the many social and environmental problems facing local communities and the planet. To address these issues, he founded TAKE ACTION FOUNDATION in 2009.

During the past 15 years, Nakata has traveled throughout Japan and become deeply familiar with Japanese culture and customs.

He launched the "NIHONMONO" project (a platform to discover Japan through authentic craftsmanship) with the aim of supporting all areas of Japanese traditional culture, crafts, agriculture, and sake making. In 2015, he established JAPAN CRAFT SAKE COMPANY Co., Ltd. In 2020, he was appointed Honorary Director of the National Craft Museum, the only national craft museum in Japan.

In 2017, he launched the "HEROs Project" with the Nippon Foundation to connect influential people such as athletes and singers, and work together to encourage and spread social contribution. Nakata was appointed as a HERO’s Project ambassador.

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