Research Misconduct: Japanese Science in Question

Overview

In August 2016, NHK received a 50-page letter of accusation. The writer raised suspicions of misconduct in research papers by a University of Tokyo professor. The whistleblower alleged that some images and charts may have been fabricated or falsified. We spent over a year interviewing more than 100 individuals concerned. The situation could undermine Japan's attempt to become a leader in the field of science and technology. What is happening in this bastion of academic research? We decided to look into this research scandal at the University of Tokyo.