It is a semi-governmental collection maintained by RIKEN BioResource Center and it is located in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture.
JCM was initiated in 1980 with the purpose of serving as a repository of microorganisms.
One can search the JCM database online for microorganisms using various key words such as scientific name, JCM accession number, IAM or other culture collection accession number, culture media, strain data etc.
JCM publishes its own printed catalogue once every 3 year.
The culture fee, in case of an ampoule, for commercial organizations is 10800 Japanese yen and the fee for non-profit organizations is 5400 Japanese yen.