Joshu Wagyu & Joshu Beef

Gunma Prefecture is a livestock-rich area blessed with abundant water resources from the Tone River system and surrounded by the three mountains of Jomo (Mt. Akagi, Mt. Haruna, and Mt. Myogi). The beef cattle raised in this excellent environment have been known for their rich flavor since ancient times. Due to their origin in Gunma, they were affectionately called Joshu Beef in consumer markets such as Tokyo.

In 1976, the JA Gunma Economic Federation (now the Zen-Noh Gunma Prefecture Headquarters), along with a council of beef cattle farmers in the prefecture, defined “Joshu Beef” as beef graded “Superior” or higher in quality.

Current Designation

• Joshu Wagyu refers to Japanese Black (Kuroge Washu) cattle raised in Gunma Prefecture.

• Joshu Beef refers to crossbred cattle raised in Gunma Prefecture.

Both are processed under strict hygiene standards and traded at the Gunma Prefecture Meat Wholesale Market Co., Ltd.