Kazu's dreads are the talk of Tokyo.Kazu Kokubo is one of Japan's best snowboarders. Big amplitude, technical tricks and lots of style - on his board anyway. Kazu's style off the snow has led to a ongoing controversy in Japan, where he is being criticized for his loose hip-hop style of dress and deadlocked hair. The ruffled feathers extend all the way to Japan's Parliment where a minister was quoted saying, "It's extremely regrettable that he dressed in a totally unacceptable manner as a representative of Japan's national team."

This is obviously a silly distraction from the fact that Kazu kills it when he rides a snowboard and that alone should be the focus of people's attention. That fact that he's being berated rather than praised for representing his country is the only thing truly regrettable.