The Statistical Information Institute for Consulting and Analysis (Sinfonica) was established as a public foundation under the authorization of the Prime Minister in July 1992 in order to promote effective use of statistical information through research and development activities on processing, analysis and dissemination of statistical information. In 1998, The Institute opened the Osaka Branch to facilitate further promotion of its activities.
1. Research and Development Activities
The Institute conducts research and development activities utilizing statistical information and technologies on communications and data processing being funded externally as well as internally. For example, since analysis on small areas is fundamental for various urban/rural development and disaster prevention planning in recent years, the Institute conducts research and development activities on small area statistics utilizing GIS (Geographic Information System). The main subjects of the research are as follows:
Basic study on how to utilize individual data of statistical surveys while ensuring confidentiality;
Study on the promotion of Statistical GIS;
Study on the development of a database of household micro data of Asian countries and research using it;
Study and estimation of daytime population, which will be useful for disaster prevention, marketing, and environmental affairs, etc.;
Study and estimation of population by geographical attribute (land height, soil etc.)
Study on the production of linked grid square (mesh) statistics from Population and Economic Censuses;
Development of educational websites on statistics oriented to elementary, junior high school and high school pupils/students; and
Development of various types of software to utilize statistical information, G-Census being a sophisticated one for small area statistics.
The results of research and development activities are published in the Institute’s monthly magazine “Estrela.” “Sinfonica Research Series” are occasionally published (25 volumes to date).
2. Enlightenment activities
The Institute promotes effective and multi-layered use of statistical information. The main activities are as follows:
Monthly publication and distribution of the Institute’s monthly magazine “Estrela”
It is composed mainly of technical articles on statistics, information and communications and information processing technologies; 64 pages.
Publication and distribution of “Sinfonica Research Series”; 200-400 pages each.
Annual publication and distribution of PSI (pocket statistical information) booklets
Annual seminars on selected topics such as “Disaster and Statistics”, “RegionalAnalysis and Statistical Information”, “Use of Statistics in Local Governments andPrivate Companies”, “Statistics and Big Data”, and “Production of Data Scientists”.
Hosting the Nation-wide Statistical Graphic Concour (annual)
Hosting the Nation-wide Statistics Convention jointly with the Government (annual)
Secretarial services for Dr. O-uchi Prize Committee (annual)
Training seminars on “Actual Practices of Official Statistics of Japan”, “StatisticalClassification” and “Statistical Graphs” (annual)
Research grants: “Incentive Award for Statistical GIS Activities” and “DocumentCompilation Contest for Presentation by G-Census” (annual) Activities of the Institute
3. Statistical data processing, statistical consulting and data dissemination
The Institute provides consulting services on information processing and data dissemination of various statistical data.
Designing sample surveys, and random selection of samples;
Entrusted tabulation and analysis of statistical surveys;
Data dissemination as a result of consulting in electronic media (CD-R, DVD-R, etc.) to users.
