is a Japanese composer and music teacher, known for having composed pieces on behalf of the celebrated allegedly-deaf composer
Mamoru Samuragochi, and for admitting his role in this deception in 2014 prior to the use of one of his pieces at the
2014 Winter Olympics
, ''Zharkie. Zimnie. Tvoi'')
, nations = 88
, events = 98 in 7 sports (15 disciplines)
, athletes = 2,873
, opening = 7 February 2014
, closing = 23 February 2014
, opened_by = President Vladimir Putin
, cauldron =
, stadium = Fisht Olympic ...
by figure skater
Daisuke Takahashi
is a common masculine Japanese given name.
Possible writings
Daisuke can be written using different kanji characters and can mean:
*大輔, "big, assist"
*大介, "big, mediate"
*大祐, "big, bless"
*大助, "big, help"
*大典, "big, law/rule ...
.
Biography
Takashi Niigaki was born in
Tokyo
Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.468 ...
. He is a Japanese composer and music teacher who served as the orchestrator and ghostwriter for
Mamoru Samuragochi for 18 years, composing musical works that included the soundtracks for ''
Resident Evil: Director's Cut Dual Shock Ver.'' and ''
Onimusha: Warlords''. He also composed "Hiroshima Symphony No 1", previously credited to Samuragochi until February 2014, when Niigaki publicly revealed that he was the real composer.
Ghostwriting
On 5 February 2014, Niigaki publicly revealed that he was the
ghostwriter
A ghostwriter is hired to write literary or journalistic works, speeches, or other texts that are officially credited to another person as the author. Celebrities, executives, participants in timely news stories, and political leaders often h ...
behind most of the music previously attributed to
Mamoru Samuragochi since 1996.
Niigaki went to the press because one of Samuragochi's claimed compositions would be used by Japanese figure skater
Daisuke Takahashi
is a common masculine Japanese given name.
Possible writings
Daisuke can be written using different kanji characters and can mean:
*大輔, "big, assist"
*大介, "big, mediate"
*大祐, "big, bless"
*大助, "big, help"
*大典, "big, law/rule ...
, at the then upcoming
2014 Winter Olympics
, ''Zharkie. Zimnie. Tvoi'')
, nations = 88
, events = 98 in 7 sports (15 disciplines)
, athletes = 2,873
, opening = 7 February 2014
, closing = 23 February 2014
, opened_by = President Vladimir Putin
, cauldron =
, stadium = Fisht Olympic ...
in Sochi.
Hiroshima Symphony No. 1 was an adaption of little-known works from earlier composers including
Gustav Mahler
Gustav Mahler (; 7 July 1860 – 18 May 1911) was an Austro-Bohemian Romantic composer, and one of the leading conductors of his generation. As a composer he acted as a bridge between the 19th-century Austro-German tradition and the modernism ...
, as observed by the composer Takeo Noguchi when it was performed on tour by a full orchestra; doubting Samuragochi's claims- sourced entirely by his record label-
Noguchi wrote an article on the subject, which was turned down by musical publications sponsored by Samuragochi's record label.
The article was instead published in the November 2013 issue of the newsweekly ''Shincho 45'', as ;
after the ghostwriting was revealed, Noguchi's article was awarded the
Editors' Choice Magazine Journalism Award
The is an annual prize for journalism awarded by a coalition of Japanese publishing companies since 1995. Participating companies include mainstream publishers like Kodansha, Shinchosha, and Bungeishunjū.
Past awards
References
{{Reflist ...
. Journalists have stated- albeit 'mainly in hindsight'
and as part of the 'musings and self-chastisements in Japan and overseas' that occurred following the revelation of Samuragochi's deceit-
that the music is 'subpar, weak imitations of Mahler and Brahms, and shouldn't have been celebrated in the first place'
and 'basically an amateurish Mahler pastiche'.
Subsequent career
In the wake of the scandal, Niigaki received support from friends in the music world, including composer Kenichi Nishizawa, who organized a petition to ask the institution at which Niigaki taught to be lenient; nevertheless Niigaki elected to resign his position. A concert, 'Takashi Niigaki Collection with Friends' took place on 7 June 2014, organized by his supporters. He subsequently appeared on television, cultivating 'a reputation as a comical character on top of being recognized for his musical talent'.
In February 2015, Shigeru Kudo, leader of the Higashihiroshima Symphony Orchestra, in 2013, the first amateur ensemble to perform the Hiroshima Symphony, commissioned Niigaki to compose a new symphony. On 15 August 2016, Niigaki's Symphony No. 2, 'Litany', was performed for the first time, at Hiroshima. Niigaki also gave a solo performance of his piano concerto, 'Shinsei' ('New Birth'). The second performance was at Tokyo on 23 August 2016. In producing this symphony, Niigaki was inspired by 'a form of prayer in Christianity... a back and forth between clergy and congregation', this giving the work its name.
In 2018, he formed the band Genie High with
Enon Kawatani
, known by the stage name , is a Japanese musician. He is the vocalist, guitarist and songwriter for the bands Gesu no Kiwami Otome, Indigo la End, Genie High, the instrumental band Ichikoro, and also works as a songwriter for other musicians.
...
,
Ikkyu Nakajima, television personality Kunihiro "Kukki!" Kawashima and comedian
Kazutoyo Koyabu
is a Japanese TV comedian, presenter, tarento, and musician, represented by Yoshimoto Kogyo. He is the chairman of the comedy troupe and drummer for the band Genie High
Genie High (ジェニーハイ) is a Japanese progressive indie band, no ...
.
Works
The works below were formerly credited to Mamoru Samuragochi, but were later identified as having been composed by Niigaki.
* No. 1 symphony "Hiroshima" (2003)
* Sonatina for Violin
Completed in 2003, "Hiroshima" was first played at a concert held to commemorate the meeting of the
Group of Eight
The Group of Eight (G8) was an inter-governmental political forum from 1997 until 2014. It had formed from incorporating Russia into the Group of Seven, or G7, and returned to its previous name after Russia left in 2014.
The forum originated ...
leaders in Hiroshima in 2008.
It was released on CD in 2011 as part of the Nippon Columbia record label's 100th anniversary celebrations.
Movie soundtracks
* ''
Remembering the Cosmos Flower / Cosmos'' (1997)
* ''Orpheus' Lyre / '' (2013)
Video game soundtracks
* ''
Resident Evil: Director's Cut Dual Shock Ver.'' (1998)
* ''
Onimusha: Warlords'' (2001)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Niigaki, Takashi
1970 births
Japanese classical composers
Japanese film score composers
Japanese male classical composers
Japanese male film score composers
Living people
Musical hoaxes
Video game composers