While Kazuhiro Kokubo's performance in the half-pipe at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver was not good enough for a medal, his appearance has certainly set all Japan buzzing.
The 21-year-old snowboarder gave a new twist to the official team uniform, wearing it with shirt untucked and trousers pulled low down his hips.
Live microphones also picked up Kokubo saying, "Oh, leave me alone" before the start of a press conference.
And in no time, he had become the nation's 'problem child', thanks to TV networks eager for a good scandal.
Upset with Kokubo's fashion sense, staid Japanese officials had even tried to bar him from competing in Vancouver. But team leader Seiko Hashimoto decided not to rob the prize-winning snowboarder of the chance to prove himself.
Although a poor landing spoiled his chances for a medal, Kokubo's eighth place showing at the Winter Olympics was still the best of the four Japanese male snowboarders at the event.
Returning to Japan, he appeared in the team uniform dressed like everyone else and all was forgiven. But he did tell reporters: "I will not change my style."
Dreadlocks and all, Kokubo also reminded the Japanese that appearances can deceive: It has since been revealed that he solicited donations at snowboarding events to help pay for a bone marrow transplant for fellow snowboarder Yoshimasa Arai, 30.
The transplant was carried out successfully in 2008, allowing Arai to resume a normal life.
