Hare pellets contribute greatly to the seed dispersal of a berry-producing shrub,Gaultheria miquelianaTakeda (Ericaceae), on Mount Koma, northern Japan. Numerous seeds ofG. miquelianagerminated from the hare pellets (122.2 +/- 7.3/pellet, mean +/- SE), confirming that the pellets potentially had a role in the seed dispersal. Lab-experiments confirmed that the seeds ofG. miqueliananeeded light for full germination without cold stratification. Besides, hare pellets were collected from a post-mined peatland in Sarobetsu Mire, northern Japan, whereG. miquelianawas not distributed but two berry-producing ericaceous species were distributed. No seeds germinated on the pellets collected from the Mire. These results suggested that the tight relationships between hare and berry-producing shrubs were species-specific.