Did you know?: Wagyu brands

(Illustration by Yukiyo Oda/Stripes Japan)

Each cow carcass in Japan is given a score based on its yield (from A to C) and level of marbling, firmness, color and overall quality (from 1 to 5). The overall grade of the beef is determined by combining these two criteria, with A5 being the highest possible mark. Matsusaka-ushi, Yonezawa-gyu, Miyazaki-gyu, Maezawa-gyu and Kobe Beef are ranked the top five of 170 registered wagyu brands.

aka (-rui)/mei [light] (Image by Stripes Japan)

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Takahiro Takiguchi

Takahiro Takiguchi is a writer based in Yokosuka, Japan. Takiguchi covers travel, food and culture stories for Stars and Stripes Japan. Follow along as Takiguchi takes readers to less crowded destinations around the mainland, you might also catch him out and about recording Speakin’ Japanese lesson videos for Instagram.