Keigo Oyamada, a Japanese composer working on the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony, resigned Monday after coming under fire for abusing classmates during his childhood.
"I sincerely accept the opinions and advice I have received, express my gratitude, and will keep them in mind for my future actions and thoughts,'' he said on his Twitter and Facebook accounts.Reports of his past abuse of classmates, including those with disabilities, surfaced online recently and sparked a backlash on social media plus demands for his resignation.
"We offer our deepest apologies for the offence and confusion caused to so many during this time,'' organizers said.Some critics had said he should hold a news conference and apologize in person. Others questioned why he hadn't apologized earlier. In a statement on Sunday, Atsuko Kubo, head of an association of families of the mentally disabled,"strongly protested'' against Oyamada's past actions and said it was disturbing he had targeted the disabled, who were less likely to fight back, and that he still bragged about it years later.
Later Monday, organizers said a segment of the music Oyamada composed for Friday's opening ceremony will not be used, NHK public television and other Japanese media reported. He will also be removed from his planned role in the Paralympics opening ceremony, NHK said.
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