Hitachiwagyu Beef
常陸牛 Ibaraki
English name: Hitachiwagyu Beef — as written on the English page at ibaraki.lin.gr.jp.
Requirements for Hitachiwagyu Beef: breed — Japanese Black; where raised — raised longest in Ibaraki by designated producers; grade — meat quality grade 4 or higher; yield grade A or B. Also: certified by the Ibaraki Hitachi Beef Promotion Association. Not specified: age.
Definition — what qualifies
| Breed | Japanese Black Sources: [B043] |
|---|---|
| Where it must be raised | Raised longest in Ibaraki by designated producers Sources: [B043] |
| Age / fattening period |
Not set (no such requirement in the source) |
| Grading | Meat quality grade 4 or higher; yield grade A or B Sources: [B043] |
| Other conditions |
Certified by the Ibaraki Hitachi Beef Promotion Association [B043] |
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 →
The definition sets no age requirement. Descriptions such as "over 30 months" or "27 months or older" appear in promotional texts but are not part of the definition.
Compared with other brands
This guide lists 75 beef brands that require Japanese Black cattle. 61 beef brands set a meat quality grade. 24 of them, including Hitachiwagyu Beef, require grade 4 or higher or something stricter. 72 beef brands set no age or fattening condition, and Hitachiwagyu Beef is one of them.
This guide lists 4 brands from Ibaraki (also Okukuji Shamo Chicken, Hitachi no Kagayaki and Rose Pork). 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
- Ibaraki Hitachi Beef Promotion Association
- Official site
- https://ibaraki.lin.gr.jp/hitachigyuu.html
- Official English page
- https://ibaraki.lin.gr.jp/hitachiwagyu.com/
Other brands from Ibaraki
- Okukuji Shamo ChickenJidori and branded chicken
- Hitachi no KagayakiPork brands
- Rose PorkPork 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
- [B043] 常陸牛の定義 — Ibaraki Livestock Association ・ Primary source ・ Accessed 2026-09-18