Maesawa Beef (A5)

Maesawa Gyu (前沢牛) · Maesawa district, Oshu City, Iwate Prefecture (Tohoku)
Meat & Seafood Wagyu Frozen Growing export

Maesawa Beef is a small-batch Iwate brand from the Maesawa area, prized for fine marbling and a silky texture from cold-climate Tohoku rearing. Volumes are limited, making it a connoisseur brand at specialty Japanese restaurants overseas. It is processed at export-approved facilities and shipped frozen to permitted Asian and US markets. Pricing sits in the ultra-premium tier alongside other top regional brands.

The supplierSmall council-certified Iwate brand; limited annual head count keeps it boutique.
Why it sells abroadRare boutique Iwate brand; cold-climate fine marbling

Buyer's brief ✓ SOURCES VERIFIED

CertificationsMaesawa Gyu is a registered Geographical Indication (GI) product (confirmed, JGIC GI register entry). Per-carcass brand certificate via JA Iwate / Maesawa Beef Council (confirmed). Exported overseas (confirmed: Ogata Farms Maesawa A5 sold in US via Holy Grail Steak Co.). Wagyu export requires slaughter at an abattoir approved by the importing country (confirmed framework; exported to ~53 countries incl. US/EU). NLBC traceability: standard for all Japanese beef (10-digit individual ID).
Pack formatsVacuum primal; steak portions; sukiyaki/shabu slices.
Shelf lifeFrozen ~12-24 months; chilled vacuum ~30-45 days.
StorageFrozen -18C or below; chilled vacuum 0-2C.
Minimum orderTypical: a few hundred kg (limited supply)
Lead timeTypical: 3-6 weeks
CapacityTypical: boutique volume
Container loadTypical: usually LCL/consolidated reefer rather than FCL
PricingTypical: $90-200/kg by cut
OEM / private labelPortioning to spec via exporter (standard for wagyu trade).
Wholesale & MOQReefer -18C; MOQ typically a few hundred kg mixed cuts due to limited supply
Key exporters & distributorsZen-Noh, Iwate regional trading houses, Starzen
Export regulationSlaughter at MAFF export-listed abattoirs; MAFF health certificate per shipment. Japanese beef permitted to US, HK, SG, TW, TH; BANNED in mainland China and South Korea. HS 0201/0202.
Market demandNiche connoisseur demand in Asia/US
How to source itJA Iwate / Maesawa Beef Council -> licensed exporter (e.g. specialist wagyu exporters) -> overseas importer.
Verified sourceshttps://pd.jgic.jp/en/register/entry/28.html (Maesawa Gyu registered GI); https://holygrailsteak.com/products/ogata-farms-maesawa-beef-4oz-manhattan (US import); https://www.maff.go.jp/e/oishii/ingredients/wagyu_japanese_beef.html (export/abattoir framework)
MakerJA Iwate Hiraizumi / Maesawa Beef Council (Oshu City, Iwate)
OriginMaesawa district, Oshu City, Iwate Prefecture (Tohoku)
CategoryMeat & Seafood / Wagyu
Available inHK, SG, TW +2 more
HandlingFrozen
Price tierPremium
ChannelFoodservice
Export readinessGrowing export
HS code0201 / 0202
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Profile maintained by Japonity (japonity.com), May 2026. General sourcing information only — confirm current availability, pricing, MOQ and the destination market's import rules with the maker or exporter before contracting. Japonity is not affiliated with this brand.