Ghost composer questions whether Samuragochi is really deaf

Also he said he would commit suicide if I stopped composing for him.

Textbook example of "covering your a--". Bravo, Maestro!

This should get screening in cinema .

Ditto Nenad!!

If he can hear or not is not very important to me, if people like it is more central to all.

It's kind of modest or honourable for Niigaki to say he became an accomplice, but I think full responsibility should lie with Samuragochi. Mind you, the music is the music. The dramatic myth of its creation has been busted and only the music remains, but it still sounds the same. And if people liked the music then, will they still like it now? Or was the myth of its deaf and passionate creator the main thing about it?

Ironically, this scandal has made Mamoru Samuragochi more famous than he ever was up to this point. Kind of embarrassing to admit, but I had no idea who he was when the story broke and neither did anyone I know.

As a hearing-impaired musician who can read and write music, I'm appalled at both shysters. This should have come to light many years ago. Have we missed something? Is the story only half-finished?

But if I was Takahashi, I'd go with the flow and skate my best ever. The choreography she's imbued into the music should be her only focus, not the scandal behind it.

Good luck to her.

TrevorPeace1 Takahashi is a guy

Memories of Milli Vanilli.

There seems to be a typo in this sentence:

I knew he was deceiving people,

I believe it should be: I knew we were deceiving people,

Also, isn't it nice that Takashi Niigaki came out with his confession after 18 years just a Few Days before Takahashi was set to use his music ~ probably after several months of practice. Way to screw with Takahashi's head just when he needs to concentrate the most. I guess waiting until the Olympics was over wouldn't have the same impact. On Takahashi or the public.

Samuragochi is a fraud, time to make the refunds to the people or give the earnings to the real composer.

If he can hear or not is not very important to me, if people like it is more central to all.

A lot of people don't like being lied to. This piece of (insert derogatory adjective of your choice) went around the country telling everyone that he was disabled, that he wrote the songs, inspired people to carry on, and pocketed tens of millions of yen in the process.

I hope he is done for fraud.

claimed Thursday that the mock maestro was a scheming manipulator who could hear normally—but couldn’t even write sheet music

I guess people in Japan can't make a mockery of the deaf translator at the Nelson Mandela funeral who was signing jibberish and ask why no one in the SA government did background checks on him. Same applies in this case, did anyone every try to sign language with him or did he just text and write back and forth.

I find it amazing that people can pull off such scams. Either they are very smart, or the rest of us are not quite bright.

Niigaki told reporters he had been paid (by Samuragochi) just 7 million yen over the nearly two decades of their collaboration..." I told him a few times that we should stop doing this, but he never gave in. Also he said he would commit suicide if I stopped composing for him."

Said the father of Samuragochi's "patron": "...in the past year, he demanded our absolute obedience to the point where we could no longer take it...We told him we could not obey any more in November last year, which provoked his anger. Our relationship has been severed since then."

About Samuragochi, who once described his deafness as a 'gift from God...' "At first he acted to me also as if he had suffered hearing loss, but he stopped doing so eventually. He told me, after the music for the video games was unveiled, that he would continue to play the role (of a deaf person).

It's only my two cents, but for it's worth, this guy sounds like a despicable fraud of a human being, let alone a sham "musical genius." Threatening to kill himself if his accomplice reveals their secret to the world is beyond manipulation-it's psychological terrorism on the worst level! I hope this narcissistic, phony talent finds no solace no matter how far underground he squirms...

Also, isn't it nice that Takashi Niigaki came out with his confession after 18 years just a Few Days before Takahashi was set to use his music ~ probably after several months of practice

I agree, infuriating. Why didn't he do it a few weeks ago, when the music could've been discreetly changed? I do hope Takahashi does well, in spite of it all.

“I told him a few times that we should stop doing this, but he never gave in. Also he said he would commit suicide if I stopped composing for him.”

Samuragochi is an outright scumbag. He has no problems faking that he's deaf and taking all the credit for Niigaki's work, has no problem walking on the stage at the end of an overpriced concert and talking the standing ovation, no problem taking in the earnings for a book he wrote that is all lies.

And what will come of this? nothing. I hope at the very least, though, all of "Samuragochi's works" are credited to Niigaki and Samuragochi publicly shamed.

A bit of desktop anaylsis here: from what I read in the article, this Samuragochi guy checks of quite a few of the Hare Psychopathy Checklist (HPC-R).

I hope Mr. Niigaki and the violinist and her dad continue to enjoy music and their own careers without being tainted by their misfortune in crossing paths with this nasty bit of work.

Japan's facade is fast unraveling. The days when everyone says of the Japanese being honest is now changing fast. All that ' culture ' of respect has been shown to be nothing but a camouflage with the likes of this case and especially with Shinzo Abe and his small troop of monkeys. Better to get rid of all of them before more troubles get piled up on the innocent population.

Like a musical Damien Hirst.....

Stuart O, is right, Takahashi is a young MAN not woman! But anyway, so if this fake Japanese Beethoven is just a hoax, I gotta a funny feeling he is not the only one and many other Japanese were and ARE making $$$ from this!!

This guy sold his work and complaining? He is just as crook as the fake composer!

Hoping that this scandal won't influence Takahashi's performance.

Not surprised one bit.there are hundreds of books written annually here in Japan by ghost writers.

@titaniumoxide: Wouldn't it be cool if Takahashi rose to the challenge by coming out dressed as the Phantom of the Opera and infusing his routine with a gothic Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde feeling, nailing all the required jumps of course.

I'm sure covert writing of songs is common place place the music business, just this time Beethoven took it a step further.

Is ghostwriting a musical piece for a musician a sin? How about ghostwriting a speech for a politician?

Am I the only one who watched the press conference and thought: "...and is this guy blind?"...what's with his eyes? So a fake deaf guy didn't write the music and a real blind guy did? Sorry....not PC comment...but twas what I thought.

I do not fgeel sorry for him one little bit for he could have told him 'NO' at anytime over the 30 years.

Perhaps this comment will get past the critics.

alphaape: Same applies in this case, did anyone every try to sign language with him or did he just text and write back and forth. I find it amazing that people can pull off such scams. Either they are very smart, or the rest of us are not quite bright.

Not all deaf people sign, particularly ones who've lost their hearing later in life.

The largest group of deaf people, who have lost all or part of their hearing after spoken language and a hearing identity have been established, are likely to retain their hearing identity and use of speech/lipreading/writing as their main means of communication.

It's not what you know it's who you know... happens everywhere in Japan like the heads of marketing teams placing themselves in TV commercials,

@voiceofokinawa, no, most pop stars don't write their own tunes anyway. The classical field is assumed to be the domain of the prodigiously talented, justifying top performers' and conductors' million dollar a year salaries.

How many politicians fake a disability to get into office? It's much more common for politicians to try to cover up disabilities and try to appeal to voters with a show of good health. Think of U.S. presidents FDR, JFK and so on.

Not all deaf people sign, particularly ones who've lost their hearing later in life.

@ ambrosia: That may be true, but I was referring to the point that NHK and others along the way didn't really check out the background and do due diligence. From someone who told me that they watched an interview with him (before this story came to light), they could tell something was not just right with his behavior. Mindless people not taking the time to fact check and make sure that he is on the level and just accepting him at his word, so that they can gin up a large human interest in him to make sales.

Greed not only on his part, but I think on his promoters part also.

Me: ok so you've used a ghost composer all the time! It's unfortunate but I understand your situation, after all you're deaf. He: but actually ... I'm not deaf. Me: err, what? Me: ............ Me: ok, then I have to give you credit for being the conman of the century!

This Samuragochi dude would make the coolest villainous character in a movie. I give him an A for effort. But yeah, hes a dirty dousche.

I always believed he was deaf because his music is so rubbish.

The years-long strike by the Minnesota Symphony Orchestra had a similar level of high drama before it concluded within the last month. I may find classical music fairly boring, but the union-management dynamic and the never-ending economic challenges of paying salaries for a huge number of musicians along with ruinously expensive building renovations all make for fascinating conflict. Someone should create a game called SimOrchestra.

"Am I the only one who watched the press conference and thought: "...and is this guy blind?"...what's with his eyes?"

@Amanda Harlow: Ask a native Japanese-speaking acquaintance what "RONPARI" means...

TitaniumDioxide: "Hoping that this scandal won't influence Takahashi's performance."

I hope it doesn't either, but unless Takahashi for some reason feels personally betrayed and disgruntled, I can't see how it will. The music is still beautiful. The real problem here is how they are going to announce it. Don't they typically announce the music that the skater will be skating to? So what are they going to say regarding the piece? just leave the name out completely?

The true meaning of dumb taking the advantage of the handicap deaf!!! Wow, just thinking what that does to the average person who in JAPAN now who is deaf does, this mean others will take them from granted now? Just a thought!

Thanks, stuarto, I had another Japanese athlete in mind. I stand corrected and gave you another thumbs up, just for the humility of it all.

Only 7 mil over 18 years.

7 million declared to the tax office. You want a drawing ? 7 M, that was his official fees as an occasional assistant. When Sagigochi made real hits, the composer surely asked and received a few envelopes as his share of the royalties. It seems he asked more, maybe too much. End of the bromance : they stopped talking (signing ?) a few months ago. When he learns that a song is going to Olympics, he thinks "That **** is going to make big bucks and won't give me one more yen...", his lawyers advise him to reveal it all now. Then they'll sue, in order to get back 18 yrs of full royalties.

he would commit suicide if I stopped composing for him.”

And now, he's old enough to die ?

just a Few Days before Takahashi was set to use his music

Niigaki is sure to bring the spotlight on his business, even far away from Japan as all media are desperate to find anecdotes to fill the long long hours of Sotchi broadcasting time. He wouldn't take the risk that the athlete wasn't able to participate or failed to get a medal.

Cos: "And now, he's old enough to die ?"

Well, he's certainly old enough to take responsibility for his actions, first and foremost being an apology to the deaf community. And why are you blaming Niigaki for this? He certainly takes a PART of the blame, and he admitted that much himself and that is why he came forward -- I very much doubt he wanted to scuttle Takahashi's performance but just could not live with the guilt anymore.

Anyway, whether or not Niigaki is a fool or bad guy for taking part in this 18 year ruse, the real scum here is without a doubt Samuragochi. I mean, it's disgusting enough the guy can't write a single note on his own but takes all the credit, but feigning deafness and even writing a book about his suffering?? I hope every single person who ever bought his book or a ticket to his concert personally sues him and the companies that pushed him.

alphaape: That may be true, but I was referring to the point that NHK and others along the way didn't really check out the background and do due diligence.

My mistake for thinking the "anyone" in your post meant just that, anyone. Writing "anyone at NHK" would certainly have made it clearer.

Same applies in this case, did anyone every try to sign language with him or did he just text and write back and forth.

Mindless people not taking the time to fact check and make sure that he is on the level and just accepting him at his word, so that they can gin up a large human interest in him to make sales.

I'm not one to defend NHK but I don't think it's all that unnatural to assume that someone who claims to have a particular disability and acts accordingly actually has the disability. I don't know what they did or could have done to check on the veracity of his claims. A doctor would be obliged to keep his communication with his patient confidential and if what Niigaki claims to suspect is true, then Samuragochi has either duped all of his family and friends or knows an awful lot of people willing to keep his secret. In any event, if no one else knew and came forward, how was NHK to know? Besides that, there is no proof as of yet that this guy isn't deaf. All we have to that end is the supposed suspicions of a guy who was happy to play along with a different lie for all of those years. I think he's what is referred to in legal parlance as an unreliable witness.

The Pet Shop Boys wrote a song about these two long ago:

I've got the brains, you've got the looks, Let's make lots of money!

There's a lot of opportunities, if you know when to take them, you know, There's a lot of opportunities, if there aren't you can make them, Make or break them!

Anyway, one is as guilty as the other. Not buying any of Niigaki's attempts to weasel out of his own guilt.

I've never heard of a ghost composer before. A ghost writer takes the ideas of a person and turns them into a book. Maybe Samuracochi did offer inspiration and melodies for the works, but just didn't know how to put them doen on paper or develop them.

The music isn't particularly good anyway. Whoever wrote it is no Beethoven. Not even close.

And why are you blaming Niigaki for this?

You mean he's not the one that did it ? You're right as after all, we only have his side of the story. OK, we also have the kiss'n tale from the mother-in-law that has not her daughter in over 15 years... Testimonies of people you can trust. Thousands of ghostwriters have revealed their existence so far, most did it without stabbing their former associate in the back. Is it necessary that he denounces the arrangement on his own (staging a scoop, stealing the show from the Olympics) ? Is it necessary that he gives excuses that sound as disgusting as the previous scam ? If he cared about the other guy's suicide, he'd still care now, on the contrary, that looks like a revenge attack. If he cared about the young skater, he would have chosen another timing, like 6 months before, or 6 months later. And if cared about the feelings of actual disabled people, of all people buying the music and disapproved the comedy, he had 18 whole years to find an excuse to refuse to write more music for Samuragochi.

the real scum here is without a doubt Samuragochi.

Both have deceived the audience. Both should bow out from showbiz and go play with Lance Armstrong and co. There are many other musicians waiting at the door.

So Niigaki complains now, but he happily accepted the 7 million yen payment. Will he return the money now?

I still don´t get what the brouhaha is about. If the music is good, does it matter if the composer is called Niigaki or Samagochi?