TOKYO — The Japanese composer who worked on the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony resigned on Monday over having bullied classmates, including those with disabilities, during his childhood.

Keigo Oyamada, also known as Cornelius, said he was quitting the creative team in charge of Friday’s ceremony.

The 52-year-old took the decision after reports from the 1990s on the bullying surfaced online.

Oyamada stepped down a week after a first apology.

Olympic organizers initially said he could stay on because he had shown remorse but then changed their mind.

“We believe that this decision was wrong and we have decided to accept his resignation,” it said Monday. “We sincerely apologize.”

Ogayama’s resignation is the latest blow for the organizing committee.

Its former president Yoshiro Mori resigned over remarks deemed sexist earlier in the year and ceremonies director Hiroshi Sasaki stepped down after suggesting a local actress should dress as a pig.

A majority of Japanese oppose the Games being staged amid the coronavirus pandemic, and reports Monday said that Olympic top sponsor Toyota, a big Japanese carmaker, was pulling its Games-related advertising in the country because of fears about its image.

© 2021 dpa
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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