Olympic Opening Music Pulled As Composer Quits
Organizers of the Tokyo Olympics have withdrawn music composed for the opening ceremony by Oyamada Keigo, a musician who is under fire for admitting to abusing classmates while a student. The event is scheduled for Friday.
Oyamada resigned as a composer for the ceremony on Monday, saying that his decision to accept the job was inconsiderate.
At the center of the controversy are decades-old magazine interviews in which he spoke of abusing his classmates and others, including students with disabilities.
The organizing committee's director general, Muto Toshiro, told reporters that Oyamada's piece, originally planned for use in the initial four minutes of the ceremony, won't be used. Muto said other composers are trying to come up with a replacement.
Oyamada's planned involvement in the opening ceremony of the Paralympics has been cancelled as well.