Deaf Resident Evil composer admits to using ghostwriters for more than 10 years

[Gahars]

Despite all of my complaints about the original Resident Evil, I thought the music was deftly made. As it turns out, it wasn't even "deafly" made.

Mamoru Samuragochi, a deaf composer of classical music and soundtracks for video games, had someone else write his pieces for more than 10 years, including his best-known score, “Hiroshima Symphony,” a lawyer representing him said Wednesday.

Samuragochi, 50, dubbed a modern Beethoven by the media because of the deafness he shares with the legendary 19th-century German composer, is also not the author of Sonatina for Violin, a piece that will accompany the short program performance of Japanese figure skater Daisuke Takahashi at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, according to the lawyer, who wished to remain completely anonymous.

“I’ve been told that there are certain circumstances that make it hard for the person (who composed the works) to come out in public, and Samuragochi has come to describe himself as the sole composer,” the lawyer said.

Samuragochi is believed to have given his ideas and images for the work he wanted to that person, who then composed the work, according to the lawyer.

Samuragochi “says it is totally inexcusable and he deeply regrets (what happened),” the lawyer said. “He is mentally distressed and not in a condition to properly express his own thoughts.”

The Japan Times

I didn't even know that one of RE's main composers was deaf, let alone that we actually praised in the same breath as Beethoven. To hear someone of that prominence admitting to basically defrauding the artistic community for ten (or twenty, depending on the source) years, that's pretty shocking.

The backlash has been pretty severe so far; his label dropped him, his publisher has cancelled one of his upcoming releases, and prospects are grim for his ongoing concert tour. It seems that fans of Mr. Samuragochi will be hearing a very different sound of silence.

 

[Ryukouki]

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Anyone that has played a Resident Evil title is no stranger to the acclaimed soundtracks each title features. The man behind the soundtracks, to this point, was supposed to be Mamoru Samuragochi. For the past two decades, as it turns out, this man has pulled the wool over the eyes of the public. Being hailed as a Japanese Beethoven of sorts for his creations of masterpieces, he also was deaf, giving his music further acclaim. More details after the break.​

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Today, it came out that the musical genius may be nothing short of a lie. An elaborate hoax has been revealed, in which Samuragochi had another composer create all of his famous pieces for him. This ghost writer has stepped forward with these allegations, along with the fact that Samuragochi may have been faking his deafness. While this incident may not seem strange, the stranger fact is that Mr. Samuragochi had claimed credit for all of the work done by this ghost, who turns out to be Takashi Niigaki.​

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Samuragochi has expressed remorse for this incident in a released statement by his lawyers. Niigaki has come forward, being a fairly well known composer and lecturer, to have created over twenty songs for Samuragochi and had been paid in a sum of about $70,000. This poor gentleman had wanted to go public but had been begged not to by Samuragochi, who threatened suicide. Niigaki had held out but had been overridden by guilt when one of his pieces was revealed to be used as a song for the upcoming Sochi Olympics. As far as the idea of Samuragochi not being deaf, Niigaki asserted that he had many normal conversations with Samuragochi and had received comments on his music.​

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An immediate result of this revelation is the ceasing of sales of Samuragochi's music and cessation of his concerts. Others are threatening for lawsuits and it has gone as far as the mayor of Hiroshima looking into stripping the man of his title for his opposition of nuclear war. His fall of grace has proven shocking, as his very appearance is similar to that of a great composer.​

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As a musician myself, I cannot believe what I have read; it's a bit shocking. To see someone pull such an elaborate hoax just blows my mind a bit, and I will most likely follow what happens next with great interest. For more information, click the source below! Thoughts?​

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Source​

 

[Foxi4]

As much as I think using ghost composers for his music and never crediting them for their input was extremely fraudulent, I respect his decision to come clean with the composing community and admitting to his mistakes. I sincerely hope that he will own up to them and sufficiently reimburse the affected composers (if he hadn't already) and that the actual identities of the authors of all the songs we know and love will eventually surface, as unprobable it might seem.

 

[Ryukouki]

As much as I think using ghost composers for his music and never crediting them for their input was extremely fraudulent, I respect his decision to come clean with the composing community and admitting to his mistakes. I sincerely hope that he will own up to them and sufficiently reimburse the affected composers (if he hadn't already) and that the actual identities of the authors of all the songs we know and love will eventually surface, as unprobable it might seem.

It's noted that his ghost composer wanted to go public but was threatened with the fact that Samuragochi threatened suicide. I can't take that in good grace and forgive something like that.

 

[Foxi4]

It's noted that his ghost composer wanted to go public but was threatened with the fact that Samuragochi threatened suicide. I can't take that in good grace and forgive something like that.

I've read as much, but now the situation is a little bit different, isn't it? The truth is literally out there on a plate - there's no secret to be kept anymore. Maybe Samuragochi did make a turn for the better now that he came clean, what's in the past is in the past.

In any case, I definitely don't think that he should be stripped on the title he got for opposing the nuclear war - that has nothing to do with his musical exploits. Halting the concerts and the record label were good moves though.

He just has to go through the painful process of reimbursing the affected parties now. He admitted, and at the end of the day, that alone took a lot of courage.

 

[pyromaniac123]

Disgrace to famiry

 

[Ryukouki]

I've read as much, but now the situation is a little bit different, isn't it? The truth is literally out there on a plate - there's no secret to be kept anymore. Maybe Samuragochi did make a turn for the better now that he came clean, what's in the past is in the past.

Either way, we've been Xuph'd.

 

[Fishaman P]

Either way, we've been Xuph'd.

Too soon.

But if you wanna use that one anyway, say "It's another Incident X."

 

[matpower]

It's noted that his ghost composer wanted to go public but was threatened with the fact that Samuragochi threatened suicide. I can't take that in good grace and forgive something like that.

That was a coward thing to do, I don't think I can ever forgive that.
I am not sure if I buy the "I am deaf in one ear", but I think that can be proved on a later date.
I give credit to him for saying something for his fan at least, I wonder if there are more ghost composers involved too.
I hope he will give money to the original composers(and possible remakes of RE get the proper credits too.)
As for striping his title, I am not sure if I agree with that, even if he didn't make the music, he still used it against the nuclear war.

(I wonder if he will start writing his own musics now or if he will give up and go to the shadows...)

 

[TripleSMoon]

Either way, we've been Xuph'd.

He probably had a celebrity donor ghost composer. Considering how Pingy is Megan Fox, I bet it was him.

 

[Gahars]

*Coughs conspicuously*

 

[matpower]

*Coughs conspicuously*

Maybe if it was in User Submited news.
(Or Magazine news, I just saw your rank.)

 

[Ryukouki]

*Coughs conspicuously*

I'm sorry Gahars! You DO have access to post in GBAtemp Magazine News now! I didn't even know you made that topic!

 

[Gahars]

Maybe if it was in User Submited news.
(Or Magazine news, I just saw your rank.)

I'm sorry Gahars! You DO have access to post in GBAtemp Magazine News now! I didn't even know you made that topic!

Eh, it's no problem. I was thinking of posting this to the main page/USN, but I didn't know if it was video games-related enough to warrant it (since it seems that he hasn't "made" game music for quite some time).

 

[Reploid]

I dont even remember melodies from these games, I guess there was nothing special about them. So why bother? But if Uematsu or Meguro were lazy-asses...

 

[MarkDarkness]

What I wonder, as a musician, is why exactly he felt the need to do that. Did he find his capacity to write to not be enough, or did he hit a creative wall and rely on this crutch once, then twice, then forever? I guess there'll be no answer to the question...

 

[Ryukouki]

What I wonder, as a musician, is why exactly he felt the need to do that. Did he find his capacity to write to not be enough, or did he hit a creative wall and rely on this crutch once, then twice, then forever? I guess there'll be no answer to the question...

From what I have been reading, he barely knows how to write sheet music at all.

 

[kupo3000]

Is there a chance that Capcom might do something similar like that Toei / Kenji Yamamato incident?

 

[Clarky]

It wasn't obvious before?

 

[Densetsu]

I guess I'll just merge this with Gahars' topic.

Interesting, Ryukouki posted this topic exactly 24 hours and 1 minute after Gahars did.