Olympics opening ceremony composer pulls out after past bullying reports surface online

The Japanese composer currently working on the opening ceremony music for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games has stepped down.

The opening ceremony for the games is set to take place on Friday (July 23), but after reports that the artist had bullied classmates, including those with disabilities, surfaced online, he has resigned.

“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,” the musician wrote on social media. “I apologise from the bottom of my heart.”

Last week, following the online reports, the game organisers said he could stay on due to his remorse over the situation.

However, after Oyamada's resignation, the organisers called his actions "absolutely unacceptable" and said their initial decision to allow him to keep his post "wrong".

“We offer our deepest apologies for the offense and confusion caused to so many during this time,” they said.

On his website Oyamada wrote: “We sincerely apologize for making many people feel very uncomfortable about my participation in music production at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games… I am deeply sorry for my classmates and their parents who have been hurt by my remarks and actions, and in school life, which is supposed to make fun memories, I did not become a good friend, but rather I was in a position to hurt.

“I feel deep regret and responsibility. When I was a student and at the time of the interview, I think I was a very immature person who could not imagine the feelings of the victims.”

The 2020 Olympic Games are set to take place in Tokyo from July 23 to August 8, but spectators will be largely banned from a number of events due to Covid.