Rose, who graduated from Harvard last year after a prestigious collegiate career, was invited to play in the Ivy-Samurai game in Tokyo on Sunday.

"I got the call a couple months ago, and it was kind of weird because I just talked to my agent and he's had some interest (from professional teams)," said Rose, a 1998 University High graduate and former Pac-Five quarterback from Mililani. "I'm still trying to convince him I'm done."

The game features two Japanese all-star teams, with one team being coached by Harvard coach Tim Murphy and the other by Yale coach Jack Siedlecki. Each coach can bring four of their former players.

The teams will also wear Harvard and Yale uniforms, making it a sort of Asian version of The Game — the annual game between the two rival universities.

Rose said the Japan game is an annual event, with different guest coaches from America, and this year's is based on The Game. He doesn't expect more than 15,000 people to show up.

"I thought it would be a great trip for him and for us," Murphy said.

It might be Rose's last chance to re-visit playing in front of a large crowd. The college all-star decided even before last year's draft that he would not be turning professional.

"I miss it a lot. I was happy with what had happened. College was fun and I chose to walk away from it and do something different," he said. "I got to experience everything football could offer you, except for the money."

Rose, who is a portfolio manager and vice president at Cadinha & Co., LLC, said he signed with his agent after college, "knowing I could walk away from it."

Rose suffered a ruptured disk in his back in 2002, in his junior season at Harvard. He said because of that injury, the desire to try new things, and because he didn't want to be a traveling player, he decided he would not be pursing a career in professional football.

Despite that, Rose said that his agent is signed, "pretty much for life. He calls me and comes up with some opportunities; he asks how my back is doing. He is definitely not getting paid, and he's a really good guy."

Although Rose said he wouldn't be pursuing pro ball, he didn't leave it behind completely. He was the quarterbacks coach at Pac-Five, and he and former Harvard teammate Andy Fried, who will also be making the trip to Japan, play flag football every other Saturday.

"Physically, I've been getting better," said Rose, who said that his back isn't 100 percent yet. "I figure my arm's in shape, so I can sit back and throw."

If what he did at Harvard was any indication, Rose should be fine.

When he left Harvard, he owned or shared 18 school records, including career marks for passing yards (5,959), touchdown passes (41) and completions (455). In 2001, Rose guided Harvard to a 9-0 season and the Ivy League title. He won numerous accolades, including first-team All-Ivy and New England Player of the Year from the Grid Iron Club of Greater Boston.

"The reason I chose Neil to come back and represent us is he's arguably the best quarterback in school history, certainly the most prolific," Murphy said. "Those are the main reasons, and I know he has some Japanese ancestry in his background."

Rose will actually be reunited with his family when he travels to Japan. His parents moved there in September, and his youngest brother, Mitchell, is attending graduate school at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University. His maternal grandparents also live there.

"That was kind of another reason I'm going," Rose said of seeing his family again. "I'm excited, I went to see them in January, it was good to see them in their new environment, their new home.

"And I still haven't taken any vacation time and you get to play football one more time."

Rose said that although he still stands by his decision to not pursue a pro football career, he still misses the game.

"There are a couple things I miss about football: the adrenaline, performing and doing something that you love and you're confident in," he said. "It's kind of weird, I realize now that I've never been more prepared or confident for anything. I miss that feeling, I was really in charge. Now I'm in the investment world and you can't control anything. And I miss that control."

Rose said when he returns to Hawai'i it will be business as usual.

And his agent?

"I imagine as time goes by I won't be hearing from him at all," he said.