Oita Bungogyu cattle have been raised in Oita’s wonderful natural surroundings. Bungogyu cattle farming has a glorious history with a proven track record of success.
Oita Bungogyu beef is defined as high-quality beef from Japanese Black cattle (only heifers if female) raised mostly in Oita Prefecture.
Oita Wagyu beef is defined as premium beef with a quality grade of 4 or 5 that is sourced from Oita Bungogyu breed raised by farms where various special efforts are made to produce delicious meat.
Specifically, Oita Bungogyu beef meeting the following standards is certified as Oita Wagyu beef:
1. Higher grade beef (Grade 4 or 5)
2. Beef traceable to individual cattle farms (List of cattle farms)
3. Beef from farms where various special efforts are made to produce delicious meat (including feeding cattle with rice and beer lees)
Meat quality grades
Japanese Wagyu beef is graded on a scale of 1 to 5 based on four factors—“degree of marbling,” “color and brightness of the meat,” “firmness and texture of the meat,” and “color, luster, and quality of the fat”—with 1 the lowest and 5 the highest. Oita Wagyu beef is high-quality premium beef with a quality grade of 4 or 5.
Oita Prefecture is blessed with mild climate and rich in nature with lush green mountains and fertile land. In such an ideal environment, Wagyu cattle farmers are committed to minimizing stress to their cattle, thereby enabling the cattle to grow in a relaxed way, leading to delicious Oita Bungogyu beef.
Oita Bungogyu beef has beautiful marbling. With its rich flavor and melting tenderness, the beef is extremely delicious. The pedigrees of sires that have an impact on meat quality have been highly evaluated nationwide.
Bungogyu cattle farming has a long history. The sire “Chiyoyama-go” won the top prize at the National Livestock Exhibition in Tokyo in 1921. One historical record shows that the sire was paraded around Ginza with a banner reading “Bungo is the best quality cattle breed in Japan.” More recently in 2017, Oita Bungogyu cattle have become Japan’s number one in the sire division at the 11th National Competitive Exhibition of Wagyu (also known as the “Wagyu Olympics”) in Miyagi Prefecture, winning the Prime Minister’s Award. They also won the Distinction Award in all categories and third prize overall in Japan. Against this backdrop, the reputation of Bungogyu beef is now on the rise.
Since 1918, when the history of Bungogyu began, this breed of beef cattle has ranked number one at competitions in Japan many times. In 2018, the year marking Bungogyu’s centennial anniversary, Oita’s new Wagyu brand “Oita Wagyu” was launched. Oita Wagyu beef is defined as premium beef with a quality grade of 4 or 5 that is sourced from Oita Bungogyu breed raised by farms where various special efforts are made to produce delicious meat. On the basis of the blessings of a century, we are launching new efforts to improve “Oita Wagyu” as Oita Prefecture’s wagyu brand so that locals can continue to be proud of it over the next 100 years.
1918
Registration rules for Bungogyu beef cattle are established, setting the stage for the Bungogyu beef brand.
100 years ago: The history of Wagyu in Oita Prefecture officially begins.
1921
The sire “Chiyoyama-go” wins top prize at the National Livestock Exhibition and is paraded around Ginza with a banner reading “Bungo is the best quality cattle breed in Japan.”
1953
“Sumie-go” becomes the best breeding cow in Japan, winning the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Award at the 1st National Wagyu Competition.
1958
The sire “Kinryu-gojuichi-go” is observed by the Emperor and the Empress during a national tree-planting festival in Oita Prefecture.
1970
Wagyu cattle raised in Oita Prefecture (owned by Mr. Tsutau Shizuri, Kusu Town) wins the Prime Minister’s Award at the 2nd National Wagyu Competitive Show, and is awarded the Emperor’s Cup in the livestock division at the 9th Festival of Agriculture.
35 years ago: “Itofuku-go,” later known as Oita Prefecture’s leading sire, is born. This sire has an enormous impact on the history of Wagyu in Oita Prefecture by gaining national publicity for the Bungogyu cattle breed.
1992
The sire “Itohime-go” wins the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award at the 6th National Competitive Exhibition of Wagyu.
2002
Calves of the sire “Suefuku-go” wins the Prime Minister’s Award in the beef cattle division at the 8th National Competitive Exhibition of Wagyu.
2007
Oita Prefecture Bungogyu Beef Marketing Council is established by various stakeholders in Oita Prefecture to promote Bungogyu beef cattle produced in the prefecture and make Bungogyu beef more available to consumers.
2012
Oita Bungogyu beef wins the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award in two divisions at the 10th National Competitive Exhibition of Wagyu.
2013
“Oita Bungogyu” is established as Oita’s prefecture-wide beef brand.
2017
Oita Bungogyu cattle become Japan’s number one in the sire division at the 11th National Competitive Exhibition of Wagyu, winning the Prime Minister’s Award.
2018
“Oita Wagyu” is publicized as a premium brand of “Oita Bungogyu.”
Present: Efforts for the next 100 years are being launched.
