Eleven topical antifungal drugs clinically available in Japan were examined in vitro for their minimum inhibitory concentration（MIC）against Candida albicans and dermatophytes of the genus Trichophyton using standardized broth micro-dilution methods. The antifungal spectrum and activity of each drug was related to its chemical structure. Terbinafine, butenafine, and liranaftate had high activity levels against the Trichophyton spp., but rather low ones against C. albicans. On the other hand, amorolfine and the azole drugs such as luliconazole, lanoconazole, neticonazole, clotrimazole, bifonazole, miconazole and ketoconazole showed greater potency against C. albicans. Among the drugs tested, luliconazole and lanoconazole exerted the most potent antifungal effect against the Trichophyton spp. The MIC of luliconazole against T. rubrum, one of the major causes of dermatomycoses, was in the range of ≦0.00012-0.00024μg/ml. The results obtained in this study will help physicians make the most appropriate choices from among the various topical antifungal remedies available for the treatment of superficial fungal infections.