High-level yeast inocula was investigated as a means of overcoming the inhibition problem in ethanol fermentation of hemicellulose hydrolyzate. When the inoculum exceeded 25g dry cells/liter, the fermentation proceeded completely to the end within 24 hours. Furfural was taken up by Pachysolen tannophilus and catabolized to furfuryl alcohol. Thus inhibitory effect of furfural component was less adverse toward ethanol production than that of non-furfural components in hemicellulose hydrolyzate. The specific ethanol productivity in the fermentation of hemicellulose hydrolyzate was 14% of that of simulated media containing 41.8g xylose and 2.3g furfural per liter.