For the purpose of examining the regeneration behavior of species, both seed banks within forest soil and seedling banks in the forest floor were investigated at three plots established in a Pinus densiflora and Quercus serrata dominated secondary forest in central Japan. The species having the greatest number of buried seeds in forest soil were Eurya japonica, Clethra barbinervis and Rhododendron macrosepalum. Some other species including Aralia elata, Rhus javanica and Rubus spp. had a small number of buried seeds. Three types of emergence patterns of buried seeds of these species were distinguishable. The first type was characterized by an initial flush of emergence, and the second type was characterized by long lasting intermittent emergence. The third type was an intermediate type. Species such as Acer crataegifolium, Acanthopanax sciadophylloides, Prunus grayana, P. densiflora and Hydrangea paniculata had current year seedlings under the closed canopy with densities from 2.0 2m −2 to 23.8 2m −2. Seedlings of P. densiflora and H. paniculata, however, suffered heavy mortality and no current year seedlings survived to October. In the sapling layer (age > 1 year old), A. crataegifolium, E. japonica, Viburnum dilatatum, Pourthiaea villosa and R. macrosepalum dominated strongly. Based upon the number of buried seeds, the number of seedlings and the number of saplings of each species, species composing this secondary forest could be grouped into three regeneration types; advance regeneration type, buried seeds type and newly dispersed type. Finally we discussed the effect of the disturbance regime through regeneration behaviors of component species on the vegetation structure and successional dynamics of forests dominated by P. densiflora and Q. serrata. It was also noted that recognition of the diversity of regeneration behaviors might be necessary in order to maintain and manage P. densiflora and Q. serrata dominated secondary forests.