Special Grade Matsusaka Beef comes from Japanese Black heifers brought from Hyogo Prefecture by 12 months of age and fattened for 900 days or more in the Matsusaka area of Mie Prefecture. Rich in unsaturated fatty acids, its fat melts at a low temperature, and the meat has fine marbling.
- Prefectures
- Mie
- Production area
- 22 municipalities of Mie Prefecture as of November 1, 2004 (Matsusaka City, Tsu City, Ise City, Hisai City, Karasu Town, Ichishi Town, Hakusan Town, Ureshino Town, Misugi Village, Mikumo Town, Iinan Town, Iitaka Town, Taki Town, Meiwa Town, Odai Town, Seiwa Village, Miyagawa Village, Tamaki Town, Obata Town, Omiya Town, Misono Village and Watarai Town)
- Season
- Year-round
- Registered
- March 3, 2017（Reg. No. 25）
- Registered producer group
- Matsusaka Ushi Liaison Association (opens in a new tab)
- Category (as registered)
- 第2類 生鮮肉類 牛肉
Seasonal calendar
Available year-round.
Timing shifts with the weather and conditions in each region.
Official registration details (MAFF)
The registered description as published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Characteristics
TOKUSAN MATSUSAKA USHI is a beef of Japanese Black (known as “Kuroge Washu”). Nulliparous cattle before 12 months are brought from Hyogo Prefecture and fattened for more than 900 days in the production area. TOKUSAN MATSUSAKA USHI has fine marblings and sweet yet refined flavor due to the high content of unsaturated fatty acid. The fat in the meat melts at a low temperature. This results in tender and melting like texture.
Link with the production area
The production area has engaged to the long-term fattening of nulliparous cattle born in Hyogo prefecture from the early times. Producers have passed down their production techniques from generation to generation, which helped develop high production technique that withstands the long-term fattening. These efforts has created “the Art of Beef”, and helped establish a firm reputation of TOKUSAN MATSUSAKA USHI.
Characteristics and link with the area: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries website (https://www.maff.go.jp/e/policies/intel/gi_act/register/s25.html)
Where to buy
As a rule, only products that meet the registered standard may use a GI name (with exceptions such as prior use). Check for the GI mark and the place of origin to tell it apart from ordinary products with similar names.
These links go to Japanese-language shops; check whether they ship overseas.
Some shop links on this page are affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
The GI covers only the long-fattened “Tokusan” (special grade) Matsusaka beef, which is distinct from regular Matsusaka beef.
FAQ
Special Grade Matsusaka Beef comes from Japanese Black heifers brought from Hyogo Prefecture by 12 months of age and fattened for 900 days or more in the Matsusaka area of Mie Prefecture. Rich in unsaturated fatty acids, its fat melts at a low temperature, and the meat has fine marbling.
Special Grade Matsusaka Beef is produced in 22 municipalities of Mie Prefecture as of November 1, 2004 (Matsusaka City, Tsu City, Ise City, Hisai City, Karasu Town, Ichishi Town, Hakusan Town, Ureshino Town, Misugi Village, Mikumo Town, Iinan Town, Iitaka Town, Taki Town, Meiwa Town, Odai Town, Seiwa Village, Miyagawa Village, Tamaki Town, Obata Town, Omiya Town, Misono Village and Watarai Town).
Special Grade Matsusaka Beef is shipped all year round. Available year-round.
Look for it via furusato nozei (hometown tax donation) and online shops. Check the GI mark and the place of origin before you buy.
Special Grade Matsusaka Beef was registered as a Geographical Indication on March 3, 2017 (Registration No. 25). The registered producer group is Matsusaka Ushi Liaison Association.
More Meat GIs
More from Mie
Discover the protected animals, festivals, paintings and sights of the same region.
Matsuri Biyori
UNESCO-listed festivals in Mie
- Toride Shrine Kujirabune Whale Boat Event
- Ueno Tenjin Festival Danjiri Float Event
- Kuwana Ishidori Festival Saisha Float Event
- Katte Jinja no Shinji Odori
Meiga no Furusato
Paintings linked to Mie
- The Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaido: Cormorant Fishing Boats on the Nagara River at Godo Station
- Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces: Iga Province: Ueno
- Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces: Ise Province: Teahouses on the Pass of Mount Asama
- Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces: Shima Province: Toba Harbor from Mount Hiyori
Sake Tabi
Breweries and distilleries in Mie
- Asahi Shuzo
- Ise Kadoya Beer Naiku-mae
- Ito Shuzo (Uzume)
- Moku Moku Beer (Iga no Sato Moku Moku Handmade Farm)
Official information
- MAFF registration page (Japanese) (opens in a new tab)
- MAFF product summary (English) (opens in a new tab)
- Registered product panel (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
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