Kokubo began his career in 2003 in FIS halfpipe races in his native Japan. In Makomanai and Kanbayashi he was able to win the competitions. At the Junior World Championships in 2003 in Prato Nevoso , he reached 22nd place. Shortly afterwards, he started in the Snowboard World Cup for the first time . Already in his first halfpipe competition he reached fourth place in Sapporo . In the following competitions he also regularly finished in the points. At the Snowboard World Cup 2005 in Whistler , he came in 14th place in the halfpipe. At the end of the 2004/05 season in Tandådalen , he finished third for the first time on the podium. In the first competition of the 2005/06 season he achieved a World Cup victory for the first time. At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin , he only finished 23rd after rather disappointing runs. Only one year later, however, he won the silver medal in the halfpipe at the 2007 Snowboard World Championships in Arosa . At the Winter Asian Games 2007 in Changchun , he won the gold medal in the halfpipe. At the Winter Universiade 2009 in Harbin he won the gold medal in the halfpipe and in big air. His last FIS tournament so far was the snowboard competitions at the 2010 Winter Olympics , in which he finished eighth. Previously, he had to face a controversial discussion after the Japanese Olympic Committee banned him from attending the opening event because he did not adhere to the dress code. In the meantime, he was able to achieve various successes in the Ticket to Ride World Snowboard Tour , including 6 star competitions, the highest class of the series.
successes
Ticket to Ride
Victory at the Burton US Open in the halfpipe, March 7th 2011, Stratton Mountain, Vermont , USA , TTR 6 Star
Victory at the Burton US Open in the half pipe, March 15, 2010, Stratton Mountain, Vermont, USA, TTR 6 Star
Victory at the Burton New Zealand in the halfpipe, July 29, 2008, Snowpark, New Zealand , TTR 5 Star
2nd place at the Burton European Open in the halfpipe, January 8, 2011, Laax , Switzerland , TTR 6 Star
2nd place at the Nippon Open in the halfpipe and in slopestyle, February 25, 2008, Bandai , Japan , TTR 5 Star
2nd place at the Abominable Snow Jam in the halfpipe, July 7th 2006, Mount Hood , Oregon , USA , TTR 4 Star