This screenshot of Metafive's official website announces the cancellation of the new album release.

       TOKYO -- Japanese band Metafive, consisting of six members including former Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony composer Keigo Oyamada, who was forced to resign over past school bullying, announced on their official website on July 28 that they will cancel the Aug. 11 release of their new album "Metaatem."

       Oyamada, who had been in charge of composing music for the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony, resigned on July 19 from the creative team for the event following a backlash over past magazine interview articles in which he admitted to abusing his classmates. The website does not mention whether Oyamada's resignation has anything to do with the cancellation of the album's release.

       The website also announced that a public talk event on the album's release at a music store in Tokyo's Shibuya district will be canceled and that the regular "Metafm" radio program hosted by the band's members on InterFM897 "will be terminated due to band activity-related reasons."

       In addition to Oyamada, the Metafive members include Yukihiro Takahashi, internationally known drummer for the Yellow Magic Orchestra.

       (Japanese original by Digital News Center)

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