Kazuhiro Kokubo

is a Japanese snowboarder who has won multiple medals in international events, including consecutive golds in US Open Halfpipe in 2010 and 2011. He competed at the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics and 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, He mostly stays in the US in snowboarding seasons for competitions and video shooting sessions He is assigned as the official technical coach to the Japanese national snowboarding team since August 2013.

Style His halfpipe boarding style is often described as clean and stylish with a unique combination of tricks.

Influence Kokubo is known to be the mentor to Ayumu Hirano, a Japanese gold medalist in Halfpipe at 2022 Winter Olympics, since 2011.

Controversy Kokubo was criticized for his style of dress on February 9, 2010, after he was seen at the Narita International Airport wearing his Olympic team uniform with his shirt untucked, his trousers hanging low, and his tie loosened. Next day, when asked by the press, Kokubo said he was sorry about his dress, but the microphone caught Kokubo murmuring in a low voice "shut up". Subsequently, he was barred from the Olympic opening ceremony. This caused a controversy in Japan regarding whether an Olympian should represent the country not only in his/her athletic effort but also in cultural contexts.