To investigate the optimum conditions for the production of ammonia as a precursor of tetramethylpyrazine flavor compound from arginine by Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis biovar. diacetilactis FC1, fermentation factors such as initial pH of culture media, fermentation temperature, concentration of arginine-HC1, and sugars were examined. The optimum conditions were initial pH 5.5 of the culture media, fermentation temperature of $34^{circ}C$, 6% (w/v) of arginine-HC1, and 1% (w/v) of galactose as a carbon source. Under the optimum fermentation conditions, 40 mmole/l of ammonia was produced after 40 h.