TOKYO — The ghostwriter for the musician lauded as Japan’s Beethoven said Thursday he became fed up and ended their 18-year collaboration last year and he questioned if Mamoru Samuragochi really could hear.
Samuragochi, 50, had previously claimed to be the sole author of his classical works and sound tracks for video games, despite having lost his hearing by age 35. His story resonated in Japan. But he admitted Wednesday that he did not write the powerful “Hiroshima Symphony” and other works credited to him.
His ghost composer, Takashi Niigaki, said he provided music for Samuragochi for 18 years and questioned whether he was hearing impaired. “I saw no signs that he could not hear,” Niigaki said as he answered questions over how Samuragochi could have managed the deception for so long.
A written statement from Samuragochi’s attorneys apologized for what he called a “betrayal” of his fans and described Samuragochi as being in “too unstable an emotional state” to appear in public.
