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Disgraced Musician Faces an Angry Japan Disgraced Musician Faces an Angry Japan
(6 months later)
TOKYO — A man once hailed as Japan’s deaf musical genius and likened to Beethoven faced the wrath of his nation on Friday, appearing in public for the first time since he was exposed as a fake. TOKYO — A man once hailed as Japan’s deaf musical genius and likened to Beethoven faced the wrath of his nation on Friday, appearing in public for the first time since he was exposed as a fake.
With brows furrowed and lips clenched, the man, Mamoru Samuragochi, 50, described how his childhood love for music came to fuel an elaborate deception that ended when it was learned that someone else had written his celebrated compositions and that he was not deaf.With brows furrowed and lips clenched, the man, Mamoru Samuragochi, 50, described how his childhood love for music came to fuel an elaborate deception that ended when it was learned that someone else had written his celebrated compositions and that he was not deaf.
“I thought the truth would come out some day,” he murmured at a news conference in Tokyo bursting with reporters and cameras. “It all grew beyond my control, and filled me with terror,” he said.“I thought the truth would come out some day,” he murmured at a news conference in Tokyo bursting with reporters and cameras. “It all grew beyond my control, and filled me with terror,” he said.
“To everyone who was kind enough to buy my CDs, I have no words,” he said.“To everyone who was kind enough to buy my CDs, I have no words,” he said.
The story Mr. Samuragochi wove had enthralled Japan — the son of a survivor of the attack on Hiroshima, he overcame the loss of his hearing at age 35 to write compositions that seemed to capture Japan’s heart.The story Mr. Samuragochi wove had enthralled Japan — the son of a survivor of the attack on Hiroshima, he overcame the loss of his hearing at age 35 to write compositions that seemed to capture Japan’s heart.
His Symphony No. 1 “Hiroshima,” about the 1945 atomic bombing of his home city, won accolades and sold almost 200,000 copies. His works accompanied video games and even the Japanese Olympic figure skater Daisuke Takahashi’s program in Sochi, Russia.His Symphony No. 1 “Hiroshima,” about the 1945 atomic bombing of his home city, won accolades and sold almost 200,000 copies. His works accompanied video games and even the Japanese Olympic figure skater Daisuke Takahashi’s program in Sochi, Russia.
That fairy tale came crashing down last month when an obscure part-time lecturer at a Tokyo music college, Takashi Niigaki, revealed that he had been Mr. Samuragochi’s ghostwriter since the 1990s. Even more shocking, he claimed that Mr. Samuragochi was not really deaf.That fairy tale came crashing down last month when an obscure part-time lecturer at a Tokyo music college, Takashi Niigaki, revealed that he had been Mr. Samuragochi’s ghostwriter since the 1990s. Even more shocking, he claimed that Mr. Samuragochi was not really deaf.
They had normal conversations together, spoke on the telephone and even listened to music together, Mr. Niigaki said.They had normal conversations together, spoke on the telephone and even listened to music together, Mr. Niigaki said.
On Friday, Mr. Samuragochi repeatedly bowed his head in apparent shame. Gone were the flowing hair, sunglasses and slick suits that had been his trademarks, replaced by a fairly short haircut and a no-nonsense suit.On Friday, Mr. Samuragochi repeatedly bowed his head in apparent shame. Gone were the flowing hair, sunglasses and slick suits that had been his trademarks, replaced by a fairly short haircut and a no-nonsense suit.
Still, Mr. Samuragochi had some sharp words for Mr. Niigaki. He said that while his partner had been responsible for his compositions, they were still based on his grand themes and musical architecture.Still, Mr. Samuragochi had some sharp words for Mr. Niigaki. He said that while his partner had been responsible for his compositions, they were still based on his grand themes and musical architecture.
Mr. Samuragochi also said that while he was not legally deaf, he did suffer from a hearing impediment that made it difficult for him to clearly understand conversations. He used a sign language interpreter at the news conference. “He says we spoke on the phone, that I would turn around when spoken to from behind. Those are complete lies,” Mr. Samuragochi said of Mr. Niigaki, who could not be reached for comment. He added that he was preparing to sue Mr. Niigaki for libel.Mr. Samuragochi also said that while he was not legally deaf, he did suffer from a hearing impediment that made it difficult for him to clearly understand conversations. He used a sign language interpreter at the news conference. “He says we spoke on the phone, that I would turn around when spoken to from behind. Those are complete lies,” Mr. Samuragochi said of Mr. Niigaki, who could not be reached for comment. He added that he was preparing to sue Mr. Niigaki for libel.
The reporters were not in a sympathetic mood. “There’s suspicion that you’re answering our questions before your sign language interpreter finishes,” one reporter said.The reporters were not in a sympathetic mood. “There’s suspicion that you’re answering our questions before your sign language interpreter finishes,” one reporter said.
“How about Mr. Takahashi?” another asked, referring to the figure skater, who inadvertently got caught up in the scandal weeks before the Winter Games. Mr. Samuragochi said he had been too distressed to watch him skate.“How about Mr. Takahashi?” another asked, referring to the figure skater, who inadvertently got caught up in the scandal weeks before the Winter Games. Mr. Samuragochi said he had been too distressed to watch him skate.
But the questions that appeared to cut into Mr. Samuragochi the most were the simplest ones. “When was the happiest time of your life?” a reporter asked.But the questions that appeared to cut into Mr. Samuragochi the most were the simplest ones. “When was the happiest time of your life?” a reporter asked.
“I don’t think there was ever a happy time,” Mr. Samuragochi answered.“I don’t think there was ever a happy time,” Mr. Samuragochi answered.
“When would you say you hit rock bottom?” the same reporter asked.“When would you say you hit rock bottom?” the same reporter asked.
“I’d say now,” Mr. Samuragochi said.“I’d say now,” Mr. Samuragochi said.