Instances of Scientific Misconduct | Hironobu Ueshima

Hironobu Ueshima

Hironobu Ueshima conducted research in the field of anesthesiology in Japan. Prior to dismissal, Ueshima lectured at Showa University Hospital in Tokyo. His work came under scrutiny after journal editors and peers raised concerns about the integrity of his research. Subsequent investigations by Showa University and the Japanese Society of Anesthesiologists (JSA) uncovered extensive scientific misconduct across his publications. In total, 142 papers were found to contain falsified or fabricated data, manipulated authorship, or other serious ethical violations. Of these, 124 have since been formally retracted. The case has become one of the largest instances of research misconduct in the field of anesthesiology, drawing widespread attention from journals and the broader scientific community.

Anesthesiology researcher guilty of misconduct in more than 140 papers: Investigation (Retraction Watch, May 28, 2021)

Editors' Note: Ueshima H, Otake H., Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 (British Journal of Anaesthesia, December 4, 2021)

Fraud in hundreds of articles (PesquisaFapesp, February, 2022)

Hironobu Ueshima’s research while affiliated with Showa University and other places (ResearchGate, August 2023)

Japanese university asks surgeon to retract eight ‘fraudulent’ papers (Retraction Watch, January 11, 2023)

Meet a sleuth whose work has led to the identification of hundreds of fraudulent papers (Retraction Watch, June 10, 2021)

More than 100 of an anesthesiologist’s papers retracted (Retraction Watch, February 10, 2022)

Prolific anesthesiologist in Japan has two papers retracted (Retraction Watch, June 11, 2020)

Report of the investigation of research papers authored by Dr. Hironobu Ueshima  (Japanese Society of Anesthesiologists, May 14, 2021)

RETRACTED: Thoracolumbar interfascial plane block provides effective perioperative pain relief for patients undergoing lumbar spinal surgery; a prospective, randomized and double blinded trial (Science Direct, April 25, 2019)

The Retraction Watch Database (Retraction Watch, Accessed October 6, 2025) 

The Retraction Watch Leaderboard (Retraction Watch, August 26, 2025)