In 2019, the Sakhalin Regional Museum and the Hokkaido Museum continued their cooperation in the framework of the Memorandum on joint scientific research between museums for 2016–2020. This year, Dr. Keita Omote and Master Akiyo Suzuki, specialists of the Japanese Museum have arrived on the island.
The studies were carried out from October 14 to October 28 in two directions. The following experts took part in natural science research from the Russian side: Gennady Vasilyevich Matyushkov, Head of the Natural Science Department and Alexander Viktorovich Solovyov, Senior Researcher. Keita Omote participated in the research from the Japanese side.
The main research activities were focused on the migratory waterfowl and predatory birds of the island. The expedition worked in the Okha, Nogliki, Makarov, Dolinsky, Anivsky and Korsakov areas. Observations were made to identify birds on the species level, to determine their abundance and to investigate stopover sites used by birds during migration.
The second group examined the architecture of the Karafuto period (1905–1945). Evgeniya Alexandrovna Pashentseva, Head of the History Department and Alyona Igorevna Poznykhova, Junior Researcher took part from the Russian side and Akiyo Suzuki from the Japanese side.
During the expedition, researchers visited 16 settlements in Poronaysk, Tomari, Makarov, Dolinsk, Korsakov, Kholmsk areas, as well as the city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. In total, more than 80 buildings, residential buildings and structures of Japanese origin were examined.

Research materials are currently being processed. The results of joint scientific work will be published in the Bulletin of the Sakhalin Museum.