Though the title of the article is slightly confusing, I can assure you that there really was an earthquake in 2016. ;) It’s just that some scholars at Kyoto University and Osaka University fudged the data.

I’m linking to the article on Temblor.net but you can also check out an article that was published by the Japan Times (second URL).

– Kirk

http://temblor.net/earthquake-insights/scientific-fraud-announced-in-two-studies-of-the-2016-m7-0-kumamoto-japan-earthquake-8562/

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/03/27/national/kyoto-university-confirms-flaws-kumamoto-quake-paper-published-professor/