A novel exopolysaccharide-degrading bacterium, designated strain 10C(T), was isolated from soil from Kitahiroshima city, Hokkaido, Japan. The novel isolate was Gram-negative, strictly aerobic and chemoheterotrophic. The DNA G+C content was 36.9 mol%. Major fatty acids were C(16 : 1)omega7c, iso-C(15 : 0) 2-OH, iso-C(15 : 0) and iso-C(17 : 0 )3-OH. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and chemotaxonomic and morphological data indicated that the novel strain clearly belonged to the genus Sphingobacterium. Based on phenotypic properties and DNA-DNA hybridization data, the new isolate was assigned to the genus Sphingobacterium as Sphingobacterium kitahiroshimense sp. nov. The type strain is 10C(T) (=JCM 14970(T)=NCIMB 14398(T)).