Recent Advances in Statistical Research and Data Analysis is a collection of papers presented at the symposium of the same name, held in Tokyo by the Center for Information on Statistical Science of the Institute of Statistical Mathematics (ISM). Under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, the ISM has created visiting professorships and organized symposia to promote collaboration between researchers from Japan and those from other countries. At the symposium on recent advances in statistical research and data analysis, the keynote speaker was Visiting Professor Anthony J. Hayter. This book includes Prof. Hayter's address as well as papers from special lectures that were presented at the symposium. All the contributions are concerned with theory and methodology for real data and thus will benefit researchers, students, and others engaged in data analysis.