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The story
Snowboard halfpipe star Ayumu Hirano (gold medalist at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, sponsored by TOKIO Inkarami — a haircare brand) revealed on Instagram on the 14th that he’d cut off his dreadlocks for a short new look, Daily Sports reports. On 5ch’s Entertainment & Sports News+ board, reactions were largely positive — “Insanely cool,” “Much cleaner now” — though plenty of posters also zeroed in on how rough dreadlocks are to maintain, with comments like “Isn’t he going bald?” and “His scalp must be in bad shape.” On top of that, the original article listed his age as “22,” prompting a string of corrections insisting he’s actually 27 — leaving the thread split over the facts.
“Huh?!” Snowboarder Ayumu Hirano chops off his dreadlocks! Fans stunned — “Short hair!” “Insanely cool!” / Sports / Daily Sports
October 14, 2026
Ayumu Hirano (22), gold medalist in men’s snowboard halfpipe at the 2022 Beijing Olympics and sponsored by TOKIO Inkarami, updated his Instagram on the 14th, debuting a new hairstyle.
Source: daily.co.jp / Read the original article here
What people said
Couldn't they find a better photo?
Thought it was the "I'm so sorry~" guy for a second (a scandal-prone celebrity's running apology catchphrase), but nope, different person.
He'll probably go bald eventually.
Yeah, seriously
the follicles around his hairline took a real beating
it was basically a lost cause already
Japanese hair just isn't built for dreadlocks.
Wonder if there's more to expect from him
hope he starts getting results soon.
He's turning 28 this year.
also shampooing and blow-drying must be such a hassle.
The calm way he carries himself and how solidly he answers questions, I figured he was close to 30.
back in my day, during job hunting as a student, they told me "cut those dreadlocks and we'll hire you," so I did.
he looks like some musician in his 50s.
Wasn't he like 27 or something?
Surprisingly rough, actually.
Can't wash it properly, so it's unhygienic.
Stopping was the right call.
And he's only 22… rough.
Looks like Shoji from the comedy duo Shinagawa Shoji.
When your scalp itches it's such a pain, can't say I'd ever want to try it.
you can't wash every corner of your scalp with dreads, so it's gotta be pretty filthy.
No, Re: #1 has it wrong
he's 27
the linked article correctly says (27)
he turns 28 next month on his birthday.
Background and Key Points of This Topic
Ayumu Hirano is the gold medalist in men’s snowboard halfpipe at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, long known for his trademark dreadlocks. The short new haircut he revealed in his Instagram update drew reactions not just to the change in looks itself, but also a wave of firsthand comments from people familiar with the burdens of maintaining dreadlocks — the strain tight braiding puts on the scalp, the difficulty of washing it. The other point of contention was his age: the original article listed him as “22,” but since he was born in 1998 he should actually be 27, as several commenters in the thread pointed out. Age mistakes like this in entertainment and sports reporting aren’t rare, and the back-and-forth in this thread is a good reminder that it can pay to check a public figure’s birth year rather than just trusting the number quoted in the source article.
※This article is compiled and summarized from the 5ch (Entertainment & Sports News+) thread “Snowboarder Ayumu Hirano chops off his dreadlocks! Fans stunned — “Short hair!” “Insanely cool!”.”
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