Mamoru Samuragochi, the high-profile Japanese composer who stirred controversy by admitting his works had been penned by a ghostwriter and whose purported deafness has since come into question, has admitted that he regained some of his hearing about three years ago.
In a handwritten apology sent to media organizations through his attorney, the 50-year-old, who has been dubbed "Japan's Beethoven," also said he plans to apologize in public soon.
In the apology, which was written on eight sheets of paper, Samuragochi stated that he is willing to receive an expert examination on his hearing, adding that he is willing to give up his grade 2 physical disability certificate issued by the government should the test find him ineligible for it.
Grade 2 is the most serious disability category for hearing problems and is given to people who can only hear a sound of 100 decibels or more - equal to what one may experience under an overpass when a train runs over. Grade 2 holders are eligible for income tax deductions as well as other benefits such as reduced train fares. Cheating is punishable with up to six months in prison or a fine of 200,000 Yen.
On the subject of his hearing, he said that about three years ago, his hearing has recovered to an extent where he could sometimes grasp words when someone speaks clearly and slowly close to his ears, though it sounds muffled and skewed, the Japan Times reported.
Mamoru added that he is not able to hear when in poor physical condition.
