Koshu Beef
甲州牛 Yamanashi
English name: Koshu Beef — no official English name found, so romanised by this site.
Requirements for Koshu Beef: breed — Japanese Black; grade — meat quality grade 4 or higher. Also: raised by members of the council. Not specified: where raised, age.
Definition — what qualifies
| Breed | Japanese Black Sources: [B047] |
|---|---|
| Where it must be raised |
Not set (no such requirement in the source) |
| Age / fattening period |
Not set (no such requirement in the source) |
| Grading | Meat quality grade 4 or higher Sources: [B047] |
| Other conditions |
Raised by members of the council [B047] |
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 prefecture's FAQ describes the cattle as raised “in the rich nature of Yamanashi”, but it does not state where they must be raised or fattened as a condition, so the place of raising is shown as not set.
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 Koshu Beef, require grade 4 or higher or something stricter. 72 beef brands set no age or fattening condition, and Koshu Beef is one of them.
This guide lists 2 brands from Yamanashi (also Koshu Fujizakura 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
- Koshu Beef & Koshu Wine Beef Promotion Council
- Official site
- https://www.pref.yamanashi.jp/faq/chikusan/koushuugyuu.html
Other brands from Yamanashi
- Koshu Fujizakura 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
- [B047] 甲州牛の定義 — Yamanashi Prefecture ・ Primary source ・ Accessed 2026-10-12