A new rape cultivar "Nanashikibu" was developed at the National Agricultural Research Center for Tohoku Region, NARO, and was registered as "Norin 49" by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) in 2002. "Nanashikibu" was selected from the progenies of the cross of "Morishi 148/ Oominatane", with the aim of developing a new cultivar with adaptability to the temperate climate of Japan, zero erucic acid content, and a high yield. "Morishi 148" is a strain with zero erucic acid content and medium maturity. "Oominatane" is a cultivar with early maturity and high yield. The major agronomic characteristics of "Nanashikibu" are as follows : The maturity is medium, earlier than "Kizakinonatane" and about the same as "Oominatane". The plant height is medium, longer than "Oominatane" and shorter than "Kizakinonatane". The resistance to sclerotinial disease is medium like "Oominatane". The resistance to cold and snow damage is medium, stronger than that of "Oominatane". The degree of spring habit is late, as in "Oominatane". The resistance to lodging is strong, superior to that of "Oominatane". The yielding ability is high, superior to that of "Oominatane". The content of erucic acid in extracted oil is zero. The oil content is medium and slightly lower than that of "Oominatane". "Nanashikibu" will be adapted to temperate lowland areas west of the Kanto region of Japan. "Nanashikibu" will be recommended in Shiga Prefecture.