Stand structure such as species composition and canopy gap formation in a fragmented evergreen broad-leaved forest and changing patterns of a matrix surrounding the forest over the past 42 years based on vegetation maps made from aerial photos were examined. The suburban landscape had changed significantly. Some forest-type elements such as scrub and secondary deciduous broad-leaved forests had decreased in area, although plantations, Phyllostachys forests and secondary evergreen broad-leaved forests had increased in area. The area of the fragmented forest, which was well-developed secondary evergreen broad-leaved forest at a shrine, had not significantly changed. Some species such as Distylium racemosum, Persea thunbergii, Camellia japonica and Eurya japonica regenerated in the forest the same way as in old-growth evergreen broad-leaved forests, suggesting that population structure and dynamics of those species were not greatly influenced by landscape ecological factors or secondary succession of the forest. Regeneration behaviour of some species such as Neolitsea sericea and Quercus salicina in the forest differed significantly from that in the old-growth forests. Furthermore, the density of N. sericea seedlings was extremely high, although only a few mature individuals and saplings of the species occurred in the forest. Population structure of the species might be influenced by changing patterns of the matrix surrounding the fragmented forest.