Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to convert statistical distances into a statistical distance matrix in order to refine the distances. A processing unit calculates first and second mean vectors ??1 and ??2, and first and second covariance matrices ??1 and ??2 as targets for comparison from first and second vector data aa and bb, or from first and second matrices or sets AA and BB to find a statistical distance matrix DD as a de-trace form of a statistical distance D defined by them. The processing unit accumulates local distances related to the statistical distance matrix DD to find a distance accumulation vector ?? and matrix the distance accumulation vector ?? into a distance accumulation matrix ??. The processing unit stores, in a storage unit, or displays, on a display unit, or outputs, through an output unit, the distance accumulation matrix ?? or an image by the distance accumulation matrix ??.