A Japanese composer who claimed he was deaf has admitted he can hear, after his secret was leaked by his ghostwriter.
Mamoru Samuragochi, 50, has gone from being hailed as a musical genius to being the laughing stock of the music world within a few short days. He confessed last week in that he had not written all of his critically-acclaimed work, just before a tabloid featured an interview with his ghostwriter, Takashi Nigaki, who is a music teacher at a prestigious musical institute.
Nigaki said in the interview that he has been writing the compositions for 18 years and spilled that he believed Samuragochi wasn't actually deaf.
"At first he acted to me also as if he had suffered hearing loss, but he stopped doing so eventually."
In the wake of the furore, Samuragochi has written an eight page handwritten confession that he had regained some of his hearing over the past three years.
He said in the letter: "It has recovered to an extent where I could sometimes grasp words when someone speaks clearly and close to my ears, though it still sounds muffled and skewed."
"I am deeply ashamed of living a life of lies."
Samuragochi has asked to be tested medically and have his certificate of disability withdrawn if he does not qualify. The letter also contained apologies to tsunami victims, who embraced his most famous composition as a symbol of hope.
He also apologised to Japanese figure skater Daisuke Takahashi, who was planning to perform to his work at the Olympics in Sochi, however officials say this will still go ahead, though Samuragochi's name will be removed from the programmes.
Despite the scandal, his music is said to be surging in sales, though his label vowed to stop selling the albums and will cancel an upcoming release.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
