Listen Live
Donate
 on air
Schedule

KCRW

Read & Explore

  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Food
  • Culture
  • Events

Listen

  • Live Radio
  • Music
  • Podcasts
  • Full Schedule

Information

  • About
  • Careers
  • Help / FAQ
  • Newsletters
  • Contact

Support

  • Become a Member
  • Become a VIP
  • Ways to Give
  • Shop
  • Member Perks

Become a Member

Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

DonateGive Monthly

Copyright 2025 KCRW. All rights reserved.

Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
Cookie Policy
|FCC Public Files

Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Japan's Fake Beethoven

Japanese Olympic figure skater Daisuke Takahashi will probably be remembered for something other than his technical skill on the Sochi ice. Unfortunately, he chose to skate to music composed by one of Japan’s most beloved composers - who, it turns out, is a total fraud.

  • rss
  • Share
By Madeleine Brand • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

Japanese Olympic figure skater Daisuke Takahashi will probably be remembered for something other than his technical skill on the Sochi ice. Unfortunately, he chose to skate to music composed by one of Japan’s most beloved composers - who, it turns out, is a total fraud. We’ll get the background on Mamoru Samuragochi, who admits that he didn’t write his famous pieces and has been exaggerating about his hearing loss.

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Madeleine Brand

    Host, 'Press Play'

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Andrew Walsh

    Too Beautiful to Live

  • KCRW placeholder

    Christian Bordal

    Managing Producer, Greater LA

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Matt Holzman

    Producer, 'The Document'

  • KCRW placeholder

    Roland Kelts

    author and journalist

    News
Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand