diff --git a/.github/workflows/python-test.yml b/.github/workflows/python-test.yml
index f006456d..750621c7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/python-test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/python-test.yml
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        python-version: [3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9]
+        python-version: [3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9]
       fail-fast: false
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v2
diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 83226eb0..aaf6e009 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ language: python
 sudo: false
 matrix:
   include:
-  - python: 3.5
   - python: 3.6
   - python: 3.7
   - python: 3.8
diff --git a/openapi_core/deserializing/media_types/factories.py b/openapi_core/deserializing/media_types/factories.py
index f5bce1fe..76cf402d 100644
--- a/openapi_core/deserializing/media_types/factories.py
+++ b/openapi_core/deserializing/media_types/factories.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
+from json import loads
+
 from openapi_core.deserializing.media_types.util import (
-    json_loads, urlencoded_form_loads, data_form_loads,
+    urlencoded_form_loads, data_form_loads,
 )
 
 from openapi_core.deserializing.media_types.deserializers import (
@@ -10,7 +12,7 @@
 class MediaTypeDeserializersFactory(object):
 
     MEDIA_TYPE_DESERIALIZERS = {
-        'application/json': json_loads,
+        'application/json': loads,
         'application/x-www-form-urlencoded': urlencoded_form_loads,
         'multipart/form-data': data_form_loads,
     }
diff --git a/openapi_core/deserializing/media_types/util.py b/openapi_core/deserializing/media_types/util.py
index 195d00c5..5b326b21 100644
--- a/openapi_core/deserializing/media_types/util.py
+++ b/openapi_core/deserializing/media_types/util.py
@@ -1,15 +1,7 @@
 from email.parser import Parser
-from json import loads
 from urllib.parse import parse_qsl
 
 
-def json_loads(value):
-    # python 3.5 doesn't support binary input fix
-    if isinstance(value, (bytes, )):
-        value = value.decode()
-    return loads(value)
-
-
 def urlencoded_form_loads(value):
     return dict(parse_qsl(value))
 
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index f18bf7e1..67f4cc8b 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ classifiers =
     Intended Audience :: Developers
     Topic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python Modules
     Operating System :: OS Independent
-    Programming Language :: Python :: 3.5
+    Programming Language :: Python :: 3
     Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6
     Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7
     Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ include_package_data = True
 packages = find:
 zip_safe = False
 test_suite = tests
-python_requires = >= 3.5
+python_requires = >= 3.6
 setup_requires =
     setuptools
 install_requires =