Abstract
Recent progress on the study of geological history of Fagus crenata in the Tohoku and Hokkaido districts since the Last Glacial was reviewed. Based on pollen analytical studies, Fagus pollen occurs significantly in a northern Tohoku site since Late Glacial, there are also many sites where Fagus and Quercus pollen percentages rose simultaneously with decline of boreal coniferous pollen. These sites suggest the survival of the species during the Last Glacial period. Considering the recent studies of outlying populations in the northern limit region and analysis of suitable habitat for the species, northward expansion of the distribution is supposed to have been performed by invasion mainly along mountain ranges in southern Hokkaido. Last Glacial refugia in southern Hokkkaido, if existed, should be located in the Japan Sea side (Matsumae Peninsula).
