Objective: To investigate the cumulative recurrence rate of pars tensa retraction cholesteatoma on the new staging system established by Japan Otological Society (JOS). Materials and Methods: It is a retrospective study and performed in a tertiary and academic center. The series comprised 71 patients with pars tensa retraction cholesteatoma who underwent surgical treatment by a single surgeon between 1994 and 2007. Results: The 10-year cumulative recurrence rate of pars tensa retraction cholesteatoma was 12.1% overall, 20.0% in Stage I, 14.4% in Stage II and 6.2% in Stage III. Conclusions: The JOS staging system for pars tensa retraction cholesteatoma did not reflect the prognosis. The development of a common international staging system for cholesteatoma in the future is desirable.