A new soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivar, "Suzuhonoka", was developed at the National Agricultural Research Center for the Tohoku Region in 2007. To develop a cultivar with small seeds for natto (fermented soybeans), early maturing and resistance to soybean mosaic virus (SMV), we selected plants from a cross between "Kariko 778 F_5" and "Kosuzu". The date of maturity of "Suzuhonoka" is earlier than that of "Kosuzu" at Kariwano, Akita (latitude 39°32' N ; longitude 140°22' E). The cultivar was classified into group III based on the date of maturity. "Suzuhonoka" has purple flowers, gray pubescence, triangular leaflets and light brown pods at maturity. It has a medium-size stem and shows a determinate growth type and high lodging resistance. It is also resistant to SMV strains A, B, C and D. The seed coat of the "Suzuhonoka" seeds is yellowish white, and the hilum is yellow. The seeds are very small. which is suitable for use in fermented soybeans. "Suzuhonoka" is highly compatible with the climate and soil of the Tohoku district.