diff --git a/pymysqlreplication/_compat.py b/pymysqlreplication/_compat.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a61b248c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pymysqlreplication/_compat.py
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+import sys
+
+
+if sys.version_info > (3,):
+    text_type = str
+else:
+    text_type = unicode
diff --git a/pymysqlreplication/column.py b/pymysqlreplication/column.py
index d448a82f..64445b3f 100644
--- a/pymysqlreplication/column.py
+++ b/pymysqlreplication/column.py
@@ -47,6 +47,8 @@ def __parse_column_definition(self, column_type, column_schema, packet):
             self.length_size = packet.read_uint8()
         elif self.type == FIELD_TYPE.GEOMETRY:
             self.length_size = packet.read_uint8()
+        elif self.type == FIELD_TYPE.JSON:
+            self.length_size = packet.read_uint8()
         elif self.type == FIELD_TYPE.NEWDECIMAL:
             self.precision = packet.read_uint8()
             self.decimals = packet.read_uint8()
diff --git a/pymysqlreplication/constants/FIELD_TYPE.py b/pymysqlreplication/constants/FIELD_TYPE.py
index 6ed230a6..51791d62 100644
--- a/pymysqlreplication/constants/FIELD_TYPE.py
+++ b/pymysqlreplication/constants/FIELD_TYPE.py
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
 TIMESTAMP2 = 17
 DATETIME2 = 18
 TIME2 = 19
+JSON = 245 # Introduced in 5.7.8
 NEWDECIMAL = 246
 ENUM = 247
 SET = 248
diff --git a/pymysqlreplication/packet.py b/pymysqlreplication/packet.py
index e0d8500b..ebb03d81 100644
--- a/pymysqlreplication/packet.py
+++ b/pymysqlreplication/packet.py
@@ -18,6 +18,40 @@
 UNSIGNED_INT64_LENGTH = 8
 
 
+JSONB_TYPE_SMALL_OBJECT = 0x0
+JSONB_TYPE_LARGE_OBJECT = 0x1
+JSONB_TYPE_SMALL_ARRAY = 0x2
+JSONB_TYPE_LARGE_ARRAY = 0x3
+JSONB_TYPE_LITERAL = 0x4
+JSONB_TYPE_INT16 = 0x5
+JSONB_TYPE_UINT16 = 0x6
+JSONB_TYPE_INT32 = 0x7
+JSONB_TYPE_UINT32 = 0x8
+JSONB_TYPE_INT64 = 0x9
+JSONB_TYPE_UINT64 = 0xA
+JSONB_TYPE_DOUBLE = 0xB
+JSONB_TYPE_STRING = 0xC
+JSONB_TYPE_OPAQUE = 0xF
+
+JSONB_LITERAL_NULL = 0x0
+JSONB_LITERAL_TRUE = 0x1
+JSONB_LITERAL_FALSE = 0x2
+
+
+def read_offset_or_inline(packet, large):
+    t = packet.read_uint8()
+
+    if t in (JSONB_TYPE_LITERAL,
+             JSONB_TYPE_INT16, JSONB_TYPE_UINT16):
+        return (t, None, packet.read_binary_json_type_inlined(t))
+    if large and t in (JSONB_TYPE_INT32, JSONB_TYPE_UINT32):
+        return (t, None, packet.read_binary_json_type_inlined(t))
+
+    if large:
+        return (t, packet.read_uint32(), None)
+    return (t, packet.read_uint16(), None)
+
+
 class BinLogPacketWrapper(object):
     """
     Bin Log Packet Wrapper. It uses an existing packet object, and wraps
@@ -230,6 +264,9 @@ def read_int24_be(self):
     def read_uint8(self):
         return struct.unpack('<B', self.read(1))[0]
 
+    def read_int16(self):
+        return struct.unpack('<h', self.read(2))[0]
+
     def read_uint16(self):
         return struct.unpack('<H', self.read(2))[0]
 
@@ -281,3 +318,126 @@ def unpack_int32(self, n):
                 + (struct.unpack('B', n[3])[0] << 24)
         except TypeError:
             return n[0] + (n[1] << 8) + (n[2] << 16) + (n[3] << 24)
+
+    def read_binary_json(self, size):
+        length = self.read_uint_by_size(size)
+        payload = self.read(length)
+        self.unread(payload)
+        print('payload', payload)
+        t = self.read_uint8()
+
+        return self.read_binary_json_type(t, length)
+
+    def read_binary_json_type(self, t, length):
+        large = (t in (JSONB_TYPE_LARGE_OBJECT, JSONB_TYPE_LARGE_ARRAY))
+        if t in (JSONB_TYPE_SMALL_OBJECT, JSONB_TYPE_LARGE_OBJECT):
+            return self.read_binary_json_object(length - 1, large)
+        elif t in (JSONB_TYPE_SMALL_ARRAY, JSONB_TYPE_LARGE_ARRAY):
+            return self.read_binary_json_array(length - 1, large)
+        elif t in (JSONB_TYPE_STRING,):
+            return self.read_length_coded_pascal_string(1)
+        elif t in (JSONB_TYPE_LITERAL,):
+            value = self.read_uint8()
+            print('value', value)
+            if value == JSONB_LITERAL_NULL:
+                return None
+            elif value == JSONB_LITERAL_TRUE:
+                return True
+            elif value == JSONB_LITERAL_FALSE:
+                return False
+        elif t == JSONB_TYPE_INT16:
+            return self.read_int16()
+        elif t == JSONB_TYPE_UINT16:
+            return self.read_uint16()
+        elif t in (JSONB_TYPE_DOUBLE,):
+            return struct.unpack('<d', self.read(8))[0]
+        elif t == JSONB_TYPE_INT32:
+            return self.read_int32()
+        elif t == JSONB_TYPE_UINT32:
+            return self.read_uint32()
+        elif t == JSONB_TYPE_INT64:
+            return self.read_int64()
+        elif t == JSONB_TYPE_UINT64:
+            return self.read_uint64()
+
+        raise ValueError('Json type %d is not handled' % t)
+
+    def read_binary_json_type_inlined(self, t):
+        if t == JSONB_TYPE_LITERAL:
+            value = self.read_uint16()
+            if value == JSONB_LITERAL_NULL:
+                return None
+            elif value == JSONB_LITERAL_TRUE:
+                return True
+            elif value == JSONB_LITERAL_FALSE:
+                return False
+        elif t == JSONB_TYPE_INT16:
+            return self.read_int16()
+        elif t == JSONB_TYPE_UINT16:
+            return self.read_uint16()
+        elif t == JSONB_TYPE_INT32:
+            return self.read_int32()
+        elif t == JSONB_TYPE_UINT32:
+            return self.read_uint32()
+
+        raise ValueError('Json type %d is not handled' % t)
+
+    def read_binary_json_object(self, length, large):
+        if large:
+            elements = self.read_uint32()
+            size = self.read_uint32()
+        else:
+            elements = self.read_uint16()
+            size = self.read_uint16()
+
+        if size > length:
+            raise ValueError('Json length is larger than packet length')
+
+        if large:
+            key_offset_lengths = [(
+                self.read_uint32(),  # offset (we don't actually need that)
+                self.read_uint16()   # size of the key
+                ) for _ in range(elements)]
+        else:
+            key_offset_lengths = [(
+                self.read_uint16(),  # offset (we don't actually need that)
+                self.read_uint16()   # size of key
+                ) for _ in range(elements)]
+
+        value_type_inlined_lengths = [read_offset_or_inline(self, large)
+                                      for _ in range(elements)]
+
+        keys = [self.read(x[1]) for x in key_offset_lengths]
+
+        out = {}
+        for i in range(elements):
+            if value_type_inlined_lengths[i][1] is None:
+                data = value_type_inlined_lengths[i][2]
+            else:
+                t = value_type_inlined_lengths[i][0]
+                data = self.read_binary_json_type(t, length)
+            out[keys[i]] = data
+
+        return out
+
+    def read_binary_json_array(self, length, large):
+        if large:
+            elements = self.read_uint32()
+            size = self.read_uint32()
+        else:
+            elements = self.read_uint16()
+            size = self.read_uint16()
+
+        if size > length:
+            raise ValueError('Json length is larger than packet length')
+
+        values_type_offset_inline = [
+            read_offset_or_inline(self, large)
+            for _ in range(elements)]
+
+        def _read(x):
+            if x[1] is None:
+                return x[2]
+            return self.read_binary_json_type(x[0], length)
+
+        return [_read(x) for x in values_type_offset_inline]
diff --git a/pymysqlreplication/row_event.py b/pymysqlreplication/row_event.py
index b3846e2f..aba418b0 100644
--- a/pymysqlreplication/row_event.py
+++ b/pymysqlreplication/row_event.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import struct
 import decimal
 import datetime
+import json
 
 from pymysql.util import byte2int
 from pymysql.charset import charset_to_encoding
@@ -167,6 +168,8 @@ def _read_column_data(self,  cols_bitmap):
             elif column.type == FIELD_TYPE.GEOMETRY:
                 values[name] = self.packet.read_length_coded_pascal_string(
                     column.length_size)
+            elif column.type == FIELD_TYPE.JSON:
+                values[name] = self.packet.read_binary_json(column.length_size)
             else:
                 raise NotImplementedError("Unknown MySQL column type: %d" %
                                           (column.type))
diff --git a/pymysqlreplication/tests/test_data_type.py b/pymysqlreplication/tests/test_data_type.py
index 87a6d6e8..f3e72ef1 100644
--- a/pymysqlreplication/tests/test_data_type.py
+++ b/pymysqlreplication/tests/test_data_type.py
@@ -14,10 +14,22 @@
 from pymysqlreplication.constants.BINLOG import *
 from pymysqlreplication.row_event import *
 from pymysqlreplication.event import *
+from pymysqlreplication._compat import text_type
+
 
 __all__ = ["TestDataType"]
 
 
+def to_binary_dict(d):
+    def encode_value(v):
+        if isinstance(v, text_type):
+            return v.encode()
+        if isinstance(v, list):
+            return [encode_value(x) for x in v]
+        return v
+    return dict([(k.encode(), encode_value(v)) for (k, v) in d.items()])
+
+
 class TestDataType(base.PyMySQLReplicationTestCase):
     def ignoredEvents(self):
         return [GtidEvent]
@@ -413,6 +425,94 @@ def test_geometry(self):
         event = self.create_and_insert_value(create_query, insert_query)
         self.assertEqual(event.rows[0]["values"]["test"], b'\x00\x00\x00\x00\x01\x01\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\xf0?\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\xf0?')
 
+    def test_json(self):
+        if not self.isMySQL57():
+            self.skipTest("Json is only supported in mysql 5.7")
+        create_query = "CREATE TABLE test (id int, value json);"
+        insert_query = """INSERT INTO test (id, value) VALUES (1, '{"my_key": "my_val", "my_key2": "my_val2"}');"""
+        event = self.create_and_insert_value(create_query, insert_query)
+        self.assertEqual(event.rows[0]["values"]["value"], {b"my_key": b"my_val", b"my_key2": b"my_val2"})
+
+    def test_json_array(self):
+        if not self.isMySQL57():
+            self.skipTest("Json is only supported in mysql 5.7")
+        create_query = "CREATE TABLE test (id int, value json);"
+        insert_query = """INSERT INTO test (id, value) VALUES (1, '["my_val", "my_val2"]');"""
+        event = self.create_and_insert_value(create_query, insert_query)
+        self.assertEqual(event.rows[0]["values"]["value"], [b'my_val', b'my_val2'])
+
+    def test_json_large(self):
+        if not self.isMySQL57():
+            self.skipTest("Json is only supported in mysql 5.7")
+        data = dict([('foooo%i'%i, 'baaaaar%i'%i) for i in range(2560)])  # Make it large enough to reach 2^16 length
+        create_query = "CREATE TABLE test (id int, value json);"
+        insert_query = """INSERT INTO test (id, value) VALUES (1, '%s');""" % json.dumps(data)
+        event = self.create_and_insert_value(create_query, insert_query)
+
+        self.assertEqual(event.rows[0]["values"]["value"], to_binary_dict(data))
+
+    def test_json_types(self):
+        if not self.isMySQL57():
+            self.skipTest("Json is only supported in mysql 5.7")
+
+        types = [
+           True,
+           False,
+           None,
+           1.2,
+           2^14,
+           2^30,
+           2^62,
+           -1 * 2^14,
+           -1 * 2^30,
+           -1 * 2^62,
+           ['foo', 'bar']
+        ]
+
+        for t in types:
+            data = {'foo': t}
+            create_query = "CREATE TABLE test (id int, value json);"
+            insert_query = """INSERT INTO test (id, value) VALUES (1, '%s');""" % json.dumps(data)
+            event = self.create_and_insert_value(create_query, insert_query)
+            self.assertEqual(event.rows[0]["values"]["value"], to_binary_dict(data))
+
+            self.tearDown()
+            self.setUp()
+
+    def test_json_basic(self):
+        if not self.isMySQL57():
+            self.skipTest("Json is only supported in mysql 5.7")
+
+        types = [
+           True,
+           False,
+           None,
+           1.2,
+           2^14,
+           2^30,
+           2^62,
+           -1 * 2^14,
+           -1 * 2^30,
+           -1 * 2^62,
+        ]
+
+        for data in types:
+            create_query = "CREATE TABLE test (id int, value json);"
+            insert_query = """INSERT INTO test (id, value) VALUES (1, '%s');""" % json.dumps(data)
+            event = self.create_and_insert_value(create_query, insert_query)
+            self.assertEqual(event.rows[0]["values"]["value"], data)
+
+            self.tearDown()
+            self.setUp()
+
+    def test_json_unicode(self):
+        if not self.isMySQL57():
+            self.skipTest("Json is only supported in mysql 5.7")
+        create_query = "CREATE TABLE test (id int, value json);"
+        insert_query = u"""INSERT INTO test (id, value) VALUES (1, '{"miam": "🍔"}');"""
+        event = self.create_and_insert_value(create_query, insert_query)
+        self.assertEqual(event.rows[0]["values"]["value"][b"miam"], u'🍔'.encode('utf8'))
+
     def test_null(self):
         create_query = "CREATE TABLE test ( \
             test TINYINT NULL DEFAULT NULL, \