Macroscopic plant fossils and pollen assemblages from the Late Pleistocene in the Sagami region are described, and the vegitation and paleoenvironment are discussed. The taxonomy and phytogeography of Selaginella, Larix and Picea, are described. Picea is classified into two species and three types, i.e., P. jezoensis, P. maximowiczii, P. sp. A, P. sp. B and P. sp. C. Cool-temperate coniferous forests composed of mainly Cryptomeria japonica and Picea maximowiczii were dominant between 90, 000 and 60, 000y.B.P., and indicate the wet cool-temperate climate with a high annual precipitation. Vegetation during the Misaki Transgression, ca. 60, 000-55, 000y.B.P., was distinguished by an expansion of cool-temperate oak forests; therefore the climate was relatively warm with low annual precipitation. The subarctic to cool-temperate coniferous forests composed of mainly Picea maximowiczii and Larix in ca. 55, 000-50, 000y.B.P. were the first cold climate forests in the Late Pleistocene. This cold age corresponds to the Murodo Glacier Stage on Mt. Tateyama in Toyama Prefecture. Transitional mixed forests between subarctic coniferous and cool-temperate broad-leaved forests were dominant between ca. 16, 000-13, 000y.B.P. These forests spread out in the southern Kanto region in the latest Pleistocene. The descent of subarctic coniferous forests is more than 1, 000 meters on the eastern slope of Mt. Fuji.

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There are many active faults in central Japan. Several active faults distributed in the northern part of the Hida mountains are described in detail in this paper.
The Atotsugawa, Mozumi and Ushikubi faults, 40-80km in length, are NE-ENE in trend and displaced to the right side. The amounts of horizontal displacement as revealed in the offsets of the streams crossing the fault lines are about 1-3km, and the amounts of vertical displacement are 100-300m with the northwest side upthrown.
The Kazura fault, 30km long, is NNW in trend and displaced to the left side. The amount of horizontal displacement is 1km as recognized from the stream offset, and the amount of vertical displacement is 100-200m with the west side upthrown.
The Atotsugawa fault has displaced the Pleistocene terraces and lake deposits (20, 000- 40, 000y.B.P.) as much as 50-60m vertically at the outcrops of the Magawa River area located up the Jyoganjigawa River. Also the Holocene terraces (about 500y.B.P.) have been displaced 1-4m vertically. The average vertical displacement rate of the Atotsugawa fault is 1-4m/1000y., and the average lateral displacement rate is 1-5.7m/1000y. as judged from the pitch θ of striation on the fault planes.
Several outcrops are found along the Mozumi, Ushikubi and Kazura faults. Late Pleistocene and Holocene terraces have been cut and displaced by faults. The average rate of displacement was 0.4-1.5m/1000y. in vertical displacement. The lateral component of displacements are usually larger than or nearly the same as the vertical components.
These faults can be ranked as A class or the upper half of B class in degree of activities.

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A stratigraphic study was made on the Quaternary deposits in the borehole at Shizukawa, situated in the southeastern marginal part of the Sapporo-Tomakomai Lowland in Hokkaido. The core of the borehole is divided lithostratigraphically into 8 formations, namely SZ-I to SZ-VIII Formation in ascending order.
Each formation is characterized, apart from its lithology, by molluscan fossils, pollen assemblage, palaeomagnetic property and tephra identification (Fig. 3, Table 3).
The results of the study are summarized as follows:
1) SZ-I Formation is possibly correlated with the Lower Pleistocene, because the horizons of reversed magnetic polarities are dominant in the Formation. Pollen assemblage indicates that the sedimentation occurred under a cooler climatic condition than that of the present age in this area.
2) SZ-II and SZ-III Formations, deposited during the Brunhes Normal Epoch, are probably correlated with the Middle Pleistocene. SZ-II Formation, mainly consisting of marine sediments, deposited during the time range when it was somewhat warmer and more humid than today. The Formation is reasonably correlated with the Hayakita Formation distributed in the Atsuma area, on the basis of common pollen assemblages in both formations. The geologic age of the Formation is provisionally correlated with the M/R Interglacial Age.
SZ-III Formation intercalates peaty beds which indicate the existence of a boreal forest. The authors will call the age of the deposition of the beds “Shizukawa Cold Age”. The age may be correlated with the Riss Glacial Age.
3) SZ-IV Formation, having some marine deposits in the lower part, may have been deposited under a similar climatic condition to that of the present age. The Formation is possibly correlated with the Atsuma Formation on the basis of the features of its pollen assemblages. The range of the Formation may be correlated with the early Late Pleistocene, namely the R/W (Last) Interglacial Age.
4) The time range of the three formations, namely SZ-V, SZ-VI and SZ-VII, is probably correlated to the Würm (Last) Glacial Age. SZ-VI Formation, including the same key tephras, namely the Azuma ash fall deposits (>43, 200+4, 300-2, 700y.B.P.), is reasonably correlated to the Hongo Formation which has been considered as the deposits during the early Würmian Glacial Age. SZ-VII Formation intercalates the Shikotsu pumice fall deposits (from about 35, 750±1, 350y.B.P. to 32, 200+4, 700-3, 100y.B.P.). The time range of the SZ-V Formation is presumed to be almost the same as that of SZ-VI Formation on the basis of its stratigraphic position.
5) SZ-VIII Formation is the Holocene.

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