To establish an evaluation system of aquatic toxicity of chemicals at no-effect level, flow through and early life stage toxicity test were performed on a freshwater fish, the medaka (Oryzias latipes). The characteristics of medaka as a bioassay organism for the chronic toxicity test were discussed. Maximum acceptable toxicant concentration(MATC) of butachlor for the madaka in soft water was estimated using survival, growth, and reproduction as indicators of toxic effects. During a 3-month period, the fry of medaka were exposed to butachor concentrations ranging from 0.16 to 0.0l mg/liter and the DO concentration, temperature, and pH in the exposure chamber were measured to check the test condition. The highest concentration showed slight decrease of growth rate in medaka and reduced hatchability of spawning egg. Survival, growth, and reproductive success of adults in butachlor concentration of 0.04 and 0.01 mg/liter were not different from those of the control. The MATC was estimated to be between 0.04 and 0.16 mg/liter for medaka.