Akita Beef
秋田牛 Akita
English name: Akita Beef — as written on the English page at common3.pref.akita.lg.jp.
Requirements for Akita Beef: breed — Japanese Black; where raised — raised longest in Akita Prefecture; grade — meat quality grade 3 or higher. Also: fed a set amount of feed rice. Not specified: age.
Definition — what qualifies
| Breed | Japanese Black Sources: [B005] |
|---|---|
| Where it must be raised | Raised longest in Akita Prefecture Sources: [B005] |
| Age / fattening period |
Not set (no such requirement in the source) |
| Grading | Meat quality grade 3 or higher Sources: [B005] |
| Other conditions |
Fed a set amount of feed rice [B005] |
Grades follow the Japan Meat Grading Association: yield grade (A–C), meat quality grade (1–5), and marbling as BMS No. (1–12). How Japanese beef is graded →
Compared with other brands
This guide lists 75 beef brands that require Japanese Black cattle. 61 beef brands set a meat quality grade. 49 of them, including Akita Beef, require grade 3 or higher or something stricter. 72 beef brands set no age or fattening condition, and Akita Beef is one of them.
This guide lists 6 brands from Akita (also Akita Yuri Beef, Kazuno Beef, Hachimantai Pork, Hinai Jidori and Mitsunashi Beef). By prefecture →
Compare this brand side by side with others → ・ Find brands by their rules →
Counts cover only the brands in this guide.
Guides
- Does Kobe beef have to be A5? We counted the grading rules of 100 Japanese beef brands
- Heifers, steers, or anything? The sex rules of 100 Japanese beef brands
- Where must Japanese brand beef be raised? We counted the region rules of 100 brands
- How old is Japanese brand beef? We counted the age rules of 100 brands
- What counts as wagyu? Four breeds, born and raised in Japan — and how 100 beef brands break down
Managed by
- Managed by
- Akita Beef Brand Promotion Council
- Official site
- https://common3.pref.akita.lg.jp/akitagyuu/about/
- Official English page
- https://common3.pref.akita.lg.jp/akitagyuu/en
Other brands from Akita
- Akita Yuri BeefBeef brands
- Kazuno BeefBeef brands
- Hachimantai PorkPork brands
- Hinai JidoriJidori and branded chicken
- Mitsunashi BeefBeef brands
About the names
Brand names are proper nouns. English names follow the brand association's official English page first, then the English name in the GI register, and otherwise romanised Japanese plus "Beef", "Wagyu" or "Pork". We never call a non-Wagyu brand Wagyu.
Sources
Sources are in Japanese
- [B005] 秋田牛の定義 — Akita Beef Brand Promotion Council ・ Primary source ・ Accessed 2026-09-18