Nakata was awesome.
Regarding Asian footballers, I personally rate their success only if they have made it in European clubs.
And especially in big European clubs.
In 90s and early 00s, Seria A was called Football's NBA and "Club's World Cup" with a champion of Seria A often called "A World Champion".
Also, Seria A was the richest league back then and wasn't a one or two horse race back then, but a 7-club race, with Juventus, Milan, Roma, Lazio, Inter, Parma and Fiorentina.
Their clubs were playing in finals of all 3 European cups in late 90s, each year, the same as how Spanish teams dominated a few years ago.
Anyway, Nakata was brought by Capello to Roma and Roma won a title in 2001.
So, comparing Son vs Nakata, Nakata actually played in a way bigger club (for that era, Roma was a hot club who played the most beautiful football like City today) and won a big title.
Even though, Nakata wasn't a starter, but a sub for CAM Totti and other midfield positions.
Anyway, younger fans who didn't watch Nakata would probably liked him a lot.
He was a CAM, because in late 90s, ALL teams played some formations with a CAM and 2 CFs (usually one strong, poacher type of a CF and one shorter, faster, winger type of a guy).
He looked quite close to Barca's DNA style midfielders, but he was extremely vertical in passes and didn't play too many safe passes.
Here is a video:
For comparison:
His transfer to Roma was worth 22M Euros in 2001.
Ronaldinho's fee in 2004 was 33M Euros.
Etoo's in 2005 around 27M.
Cr7 to Man Utd in 2003 was 14M.