[STAP Cell] Ms.Obogata's apology and objection

(Former article: >[STAP Cell] Does it really exist????)

Ms. Obogata appeared in front of journalists to against the result of the board of investigation in RIKEN.  

First of all, she apologized about her paper. "I deeply apologize for the inconvenience to RIKEN, my co-authors and everyone because I rise many suspicions from my carelessness, lack of industriousness, immaturity."

She bowed deeply.

She also said, she couldn't show up in front of people for a while because RIKEN didn't let her do that. But she believes STAP phenomenon is useful for someone someday so she has continued to research.

Her comments:

"From the perspective of many researchers, I think it is a huge mistake but it does not affect the conclusions of the research results of the paper by this mistake. The experiments surely have been conducted and the data is also present. I would like you to understand that I never finished the paper maliciously."

She gave way to tears.

"If I had presented a chart correctly in the first place, there is no need for investigation committee. I would like to thank and apologize sincerely to the investigation committee members for taking the time."

 "However, the result of the investigation, it have been determined to be illegal without a good understanding of the facts. If I get a enough opportunity for the excuse and description, you shall be able to understand the background of mistake. That is why I am here today with my lawyer."

"STAP phenomenon is the truth that has been confirmed many times." 

She said, she made STAP cell over 200 times.

There were 2 unjustified things from RIKEN's investigation.

3. One of the photo of gene analysis is cut-and-paste? >> Unjustified: falsification
6. Did Ms. Obogata divert the photo from her doctor's thesis? >> Unjustified: fabricated

RIKEN defines fabrication, falsification and plagiarism as research fraud. 

Fabrication is to build up the experimental data and result.
Falsification is to change or omit the date.
Plagiarism is to divert the sentences of others without acknowledgment.

However, RIKEN has not included the honest errors as research fraud. 

Ms. Obogata said, she did the 2 things but they were the honest errors. So she can not accept the result of the investigation.

I don't know why I just want to believe her because if she really did the falsification or fabrication, she will never show up and apologize in front of people like this. She just want us to understand that there is a STAP cells.

This is not only her problem. I think RIKEN has a big responsibility. We don't know she can join a reproductive experiment. I hope we can know there is a STAP cell or not as soon as possible.

Hang on, Obogata-san!

Thank you.

Guess what, which one is 100 million yen (one million dollar) BONSAI?

 A little while ago, I watched a Japanese variety show "TV performer rating classification check (芸能人格付けチェック)". Major Japanese artists, major Japanese TV performer, major Japanese comedian and major Japanese actor appear in the TV show. They are checked whether they are real major people or not. 

GACKT is a regular of the TV show.

Masatoshi Hamada is a facilitator of the show. He is one of major Japanese comedian. His comedy duo name is "Down Town". His partner is Hitoshi Matsumoto who made a film "Big man in Japan (大日本人)". "Down Town" is a great comedy duo. I love them. Especially, Hitoshi Matsumoto, he has a great deal of talent. I want to post an article about them someday.

Masatoshi Hamada. His nick name is "Hama-chan"

Hama-chan shows general products (Amateur) and luxury goods (professional) of the same category to the major people. And then, they have to figure out which one is the luxury goods. That will determine their rank according to the number of correct answers. The question is alternative "A" or "B" with some exceptions. 

For example, they distinguish sound of a violin. The violinist plays same music by using two different violins. One of them is a mass-produced product, cheap violin and the other one is Stradivarius which is worth hundreds of thousands to several million U.S. dollars at today's prices. It is very hard to distinguish. 

And there was a Bonsai question. Here are two Bonsais.

Please try to think which one is one million dollar Bonsai.

One of them is made by Kunio Kobayashi who is a Bonsai expert and owner of Shunkaen Bosai Museum. 

Bonsai expert: Mr. Kunio Kobayashi

 Shunkaen Bosai Museum

4 times winner of Prime Minister Award

The other one is a fake Bonsai. But It is made by Mitsuyo Otsuki. She is an artificial Bonsai expert. Her Bonsai is not real but her technique is fantastic.

Artificial Bonsai expert: Ms. Mitsuyo Otsuki

These are the materials for Artificial Bonsai.
She is also winner of Prime Minister Award.

They are both professional and master of the field. Here is the Bosai picture again. The point is the height. A has double in height than B.

Have a closer look at A and B

They look very similar for me. A is kind of huge as Bonsai, I guess. B is bright in color.

They can not touch them and they have to see Bonsais from some distance. Did you get your answer? Please take a look the pictures again if you are still thinking.


Are you ready to answer? The answer is... (scroll down)

[STAP Cell] Does it really exist????

We could know the result about STAP Cell research from the board of investigation in RIKEN yesterday. (Former article:[STAP Cell > easy explanation] Does it really exist? Nobody knows except researchers. But I believe still there is a hope.)

RIKEN announced like this.

1. The photo of STAP cell on the paper is doctored? >> Justified

2. The photo of placenta looks like same even the experiment is different. >> Justified

3. One of the photo of gene analysis is cut-and-paste? >> Unjustified: falsification

4. Did they copy the experiment technique from the other paper? >> Justified

5. The experiment technique is different from the actual procedure. >> Justified

6. Did Ms. Obogata divert the photo from her doctor's thesis? >> Unjustified: fabricated

They made a conclusion that Ms. Obogata did two fraudulent acts for the research. Her research collaborators: Mr. Wakayama and Mr. Kasai didn't do any fraudulent act but they didn't check her paper properly so they bear grave responsibility. 

I am so sad that Ms. Obogata did such things. I still can't believe it but this is the truth even today is April 1st. Why did she do this? Why RIKEN coudn't figure it out? We got a sad result but it is in many ways a mystery. A big mystery is "does STAP cell really exist???". We just want to know about it. The board of investigation, they just investigated whether there was a fraud. They said it is outside the reach of their investigation it may or may not exist.

I usually want to post a good and a nice thing of Japan or Japanese on this blog so this article is contrary to my intention but now I just want to know STAP exists or not.

Next article > [STAP Cell] Ms.Obogata's apology and objection

Thank you!

Aki