Kazuno Beef
かづの牛 Akita
English name: Kazuno Beef — based on the English name in the GI register, “KAZUNO BEEF / KAZUNO GYU”.
GI registered No.157
Requirements for Kazuno Beef: breed — Japanese Shorthorn; where raised — raised longest in, and finished in, Kazuno City and Kosaka Town, Akita; age — 22 months of age or older. Also: must have been grazed on public or other pasture within the area before shipment. Not specified: grade.
Definition — what qualifies
| Breed | Japanese Shorthorn Registered with the Japanese Shorthorn registry Sources: [G0157] |
|---|---|
| Where it must be raised | Raised longest in, and finished in, Kazuno City and Kosaka Town, Akita Sources: [G0157] |
| Age / fattening period | 22 months of age or older Sources: [G0157] |
| Grading |
Not set (no such requirement in the source) |
| Other conditions |
Must have been grazed on public or other pasture within the area before shipment [G0157] |
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 3 beef brands that require Japanese Shorthorn cattle. 32 beef brands set no meat quality grade, and Kazuno Beef is one of them. 17 beef brands set a minimum age, ranging from 18 to 33 months. 22 months ranks 14th from the longest (1 other also uses 22).
This guide lists 6 brands from Akita (also Akita Beef, Akita Yuri 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.
Geographical Indication (GI)
- Registration no.
- No.157
- Registered
- 2025-01-30
- English name in the GI register
- KAZUNO BEEF / KAZUNO GYU
- Registered producer group
- Kazuno Gyu Promotion Council
This definition is taken from the production method in the specification registered with Japan's Ministry of Agriculture.
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
- Kazuno Gyu Promotion Council
Other brands from Akita
- Akita BeefBeef brands
- Akita Yuri 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
- [G0157] 地理的表示 登録番号第157号「かづの牛」明細書 — Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (GI) ・ Primary source ・ Accessed 2026-09-18