Coagulase typing, staphylococcus enterotoxins (SE) A to E or toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST = 1) production, and susceptibility to Oxacillin (MPIPC) were examined in 430 strains of S. aureus, which were isolated from clinical specimen of 43 Japanese National University or Medical College Hospitals during the one month period of August in 1990. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): more than 4 mmg/ml of minimum inhibitory concentration for MPIPC in Mueller-Hinton broth containing 2% NaCl, occupied 58.6% of all the S. aureus, and more than 60% of the strains from admitted patients in all the areas of Japan except Hokkaidoh. Coagulase type II, SEC and TSST-1 producing strains were most frequently detected, 34.5% of all the MRSA. This kind of strain was distributed mainly in the eastern part of the Honshyu island, and showed high percentage especially in the Tohhoku and the Chyubu area. The second most frequent kind of MRSA was coagulase type II, no SE nor TSST-1 producing one, 15.4%, which was distributed mainly in the western part of Japan. Coagulase type IV, SEA producing MRSA strains and Coagulase type II, SEA, SEC and TSST-1 producing strains were detected in relatively high incidence, 10.3% and 8.7% respectively. Coagulase type III, no SE nor TSST-1 producing MRSAs demonstrated characteristic distribution, and were detected only in the western part of Japan, presenting the highest incidence in the Shikoku Island.