Summary of the 4th Japan-U.S. Agricultural Statistics Dialogue
Overview
On September 15, 2026, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries held the fourth regular dialogue between Japanese and U.S. agricultural statistics experts with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. They discussed developments surrounding agricultural statistics in both countries, new survey methods, and future directions, and shared the view that the dialogue was beneficial for improving the quality and efficient implementation of agricultural statistics. The next meeting is scheduled to take place in the United States in the next fiscal year, and on September 17, a field visit was conducted to observe an actual measurement survey of rice crops in paddy fields under the jurisdiction of the Tohoku Regional Agricultural Administration Office.
Key points
- The fourth regular dialogue between Japanese and U.S. agricultural statistics experts was held.
- The participants exchanged information on developments in agricultural statistics surveys, new survey methods, and future directions.
- Both countries shared the view that the dialogue was beneficial for improving the quality and efficient implementation of agricultural statistics.
- It was decided that the next meeting would be held in the United States in the next fiscal year.
Overview
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries held the fourth regular dialogue between Japanese and U.S. agricultural statistics experts with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The participants exchanged information on agricultural statistics in both countries and discussed future cooperation, including regular dialogues.
The dialogue addressed developments surrounding agricultural statistics surveys in both countries, the status of introducing new survey methods, and future directions.
Impact
The Japanese and U.S. sides shared the view that the meeting was beneficial in various respects, including improving the quality and efficient implementation of agricultural statistics in both countries.
As part of future cooperation, it was decided that the next meeting would be held in the United States in the next fiscal year, with the schedule and other details to be arranged later.
Details
The dialogue was held on September 15, 2026 (Tuesday), from 10:00 to 16:30 in the First Conference Room of the Statistics Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The Japanese side was represented by Takafumi Matsumura, Director-General of the Statistics Department of the Minister's Secretariat of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and others; the U.S. side was represented by Andrew Dau, Chief Data Scientist in the Office of the Administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Statistics Bureau, and others.
The two countries exchanged information on developments surrounding agricultural statistics surveys, the status of introducing new survey methods, and future directions.
On September 17, 2026 (Thursday), the participants visited an actual measurement survey of rice crops in paddy fields under the jurisdiction of the Tohoku Regional Agricultural Administration Office and exchanged information, with the aim of understanding Japan's statistical surveys and the realities of production sites.