Cell culture apparatus and cell culture method using the same

A cell culture apparatus comprising:

• a cylindrical culture vessel that holds a culture liquid containing cells;
• a supporting column that is fixed to stand upright in a center of an inner surface of a bottom of the culture vessel;
• and
• a stirring device comprising an attaching portion that is attached to an upper portion of the supporting column so as to be rotatable relative to the supporting column and a stirring blade, an upper portion of the stirring blade being fixed to the attaching portion so as to rotate around the supporting column as a center of rotation, the stirring blade of the stirring device having a plate shape extending downwards, as a whole, from the upper portion of the stirring blade, wherein
• the supporting column has a conical portion, the conical portion having a portion conically formed to rise up from the inner surface of the bottom and the conical portion having a diameter increasing toward the inner surface of the bottom,
• the upper portion of the supporting column is located above a liquid level of the culture liquid, and
• the stirring blade of the stirring device is formed so that a lower portion of the stirring blade has a shape that conforms to an outer surface of the conical portion of the supporting column when the stirring device rotates.