This book highlights the forefront of research on statistical distribution theory, with a focus on unconventional random quantities, and on phenomena such as random partitioning. The respective papers reflect the continuing appeal of distribution theory and the lively interest in this classic field, which owes much of its expansion since the 1960s to Professor Masaaki Sibuya, to whom this book is dedicated.

The topics addressed include a test procedure for discriminating the (multivariate) Ewens distribution from the Pitman Sampling Formula, approximation to the length of the Ewens distribution by discrete distributions and the normal distribution, and the distribution of the number of levels in [s]-specified random permutations. Also included are distributions associated with orthogonal polynomials with a symmetric matrix argument and the characterization of the Jeffreys prior.

Shuhei Mano, The Institute of Statistical Mathematics

Takaaki Shimura, The Institute of Statistical Mathematics