I was involved in a project with a researcher in Japan, it was impossible to replicate their work.

Numerous people (academics in the field) have suggested that the work was falsified.

I somehow can’t quite bring myself the believe it. I can’t understand what the motivation would be, or that any reasonable person would fake scientific data. And continue to do so, over a period years.

The STAP cell debacle is somewhat similar. What’s the endgame? Surely it becomes clear in the end that the work can not be replicated?

Can anyone shed some light on the motivation for these frauds? Is there something in particular about the Japanese ecosystem that makes them more common?