Japan and the Wagyu Olympics: The Holy Beef Grail
The Wagyu Olympics are held every 5 years in Japan.
What is Wagyu? That’s the first question.
The word Wagyu is written with the following kanji “和牛“, 和 meaning in this case “Japanese-style” and 牛 meaning “beef”. So, wagyu simply means Japanese beef. The breed for Wagyu is called Kuroge (黒毛) which means black hairs, so black cow.
（Japanese cows are very polite and very gifted with languages）
The word Wagyu is not used much outside of Japan (as far as I remember) and therefore when trying to explain what type of beef it is, I often have to refer to the famous Kobe beef. Which breaks my heart. Not that I don’t like Kobe beef of course, it’s just that it kind of became a brand representing all Japanese beefs, just like “Kleenex” has become a generic term for paper tissue.
It’s quite well done though, because everyone has already heard of Kobe beef and often considers this is the best beef in the world (or at least in Japan).
Well, actually, that’s what the Wagyu Olympics are for: to crown the best beef in Japan.
You want to know what beef to taste during your stay in Japan?
The Wagyu Olympics are here to help you in your quest for the Holy Beef Grail!
The Wagyu Olympics: How does it work?
The 2017 Olympics were held in Miyagi. This was the 11th edition.
39 prefectures (on 47 in total) participated.
Before the competition, every prefecture selects its own representatives to compete in all kind of categories (we will talk about it just a little bit later) in order to become the best beef in Japan. So basically, the winner is necessarily a prefecture, not a city nor a brand. Let’s use the example of Kobe beef again: Kobe beef is a brand. Therefore, it would not be able to participate to the competition by itself. Kobe beef would have to compete within the Hyogo Prefecture.
Finally, just like the regular Olympics, you simply add up the number (and type) of medals obtained in the different categories and the highest total score determines the winner.
May I add my own comment？ (Yes of course!) : Some prefectures will decide to participate in only some specific categories, but then they won’t appear on the general ranking and won’t be able to stand on the final podium.
Now, let’s take a look at those categories（区）:
1区 若雄 若い雄 15ヶ月以上、23月未満
Checking outside look of young bull from 15 to 23 months old
2区 若雌の1 若い雌 14ヶ月～17ヶ月
Checking outside look of young cow from 14 to 17 months old
3区 若雌の2 若い雌 17ヶ月～20ヶ月
Checking outside look of young cow from 17 to 20 months old
4区 系統雌牛群 14ヶ月以上
Checking outside look of group of cows and its male lineage (3 generations)
5区 繁殖雌牛群 3産以上
Checking outside look of group of cows that gave birth at least 3 times (fertility)
6区 高等登録群 14ヶ月以上
Checking outside look of group of cows and their female lineage (3 generations)
→ What gene, what part of the cow got better generation after generation.
7区 総合評価群（種牛群 + 肉牛群）
Checking outside look from 3 cows (male or female, 17 to 24 months old)
Checking meat from 3 cows (male, >24 months old)
8区 若雄後代検定群 24ヶ月未満
Checking meat from a group of 3 cows (>24 months old) born from the same bull
9区 去勢肥育牛
Check meat from an ox (>24 months old)
To put it in simple terms (and also because my abilities in English have their limit), the categories 1 to 6 are focusing the cow itself (and the bull for the category 1): its look, its shape, its beauty, its lineage, its fertility, and what amazing calves it could give birth to. The categories 7, 8 and 9 are about the meat itself. For example, the fat quality, how marbled the meat is, how it would melt in the mouth, etc.
I think it is important to say that there is no tasting during those Olympics, the meat is checked with different devices to obtain all the necessary information (ex: the level of good fat, bad fat… if good fat actually exists ಠ_ಠ)
Well, I won’t make you wait any longer, here is the final podium ladies and gentlemen! :
Kagoshima prefecture won the 2017 Olympics.
Miyazaki Prefecture arrived 2nd.
Oita Prefecture arrived 3rd.
(my best creation so far)
What do those prefectures have in common? They are all located in the Kyushu island.
So, if you want to taste the best Japanese beefs, you better go south 😉 (and I can tell you, you won’t regret it!)
But… Who actually has the best beef?
In a strictly beef consumer point of view, the important categories would be 7, 8 and 9.
Miyazaki Prefecture came out victorious on category 7 and 8 and received the most honorific best-taste prize: the 内閣総理大臣賞 that we can translate (literally) by the “Prime Minister’s Award”. Finally, Kagoshima took the gold medal on category 9.
I’m sure you see me coming with all my references to Miyazaki (yes, I am a big fan of my prefecture of adoption) but here is the thing: Miyazaki Prefecture won the Olympics 2 times in a row in 2007 and in 2012, which was a historic record. Also, for the third time in a row it received the “Prime Minister’s Award”.
During this 11th edition, by winning 2 out of 3 meat quality categories and by receiving the most honorific best meat prize, Miyazaki Beef IS the best-tasting beef in Japan.
I mean, just look at that:
(You like sushi and you like beef? This is for you! → Gyushin Restaurant in Kobayashi)
I am insisting on the term “best-tasting beef”, as the “best beef” would belong to the Olympic winner, Kagoshima prefecture (you see, I stay fair)
It seems that neither Kobe Beef nor Matsuzaka beef participated in those Olympics. Therefore, impossible to compare. Impossible either to affirm it is the best beef in Japan. We can imagine a ton of reasons for this choice. They don’t need to participate since their brands are renowned throughout the world. The risk to see their brand image suffer from a bad result can also explain this choice. Again, I’m simply guessing.
Why is there so many false information about Wagyu?
I have been doing lots of research, asking lots of questions to cattle raisers to be able to write this article and I noticed there are lots of wrong information on many websites or blogs. The thing is, those Olympics are very complicated to fully understand as there are many sub-categories such as, for example, the “fat quality category”. The winner of one sub-category is not necessarily the winner of the whole category but it allows people to say “we have the best beef in Japan”, without specifying anything. Basically every prefectures that came out victorious in one category or sub category use the “日本一“ = “Our beef is number one” even if they won the “most beautiful black hairs” category (I just made up this category, I’m pretty sure it doesn’t exist).
To be sure that people stay clueless or misinformed about Japanese beef, the international medias (or at least the French ones) are also clearly helping. I remember watching documentaries about Japanese beef and being amazed by this idea of feeding cows with beers and giving them massages. It was like all beefs are raised with this method, like this is the unconditional rule to raise TRUE Japanese beef.
Actually, this method is used only by Matsuzaka Beef brand. Its Wikipedia page is, of course, affirming that this is one of the “three big beefs” (whatever that means) within Japan. The French version is even better, saying this is one of the three best beef in Japan with… Kobe Beef. (ﾉಥДಥ)ﾉ︵┻━┻･/ (← throwing my desk out of anger!)
I think the problem is also that the Wagyu Olympics are not well enough promoted. I mean this is the biggest national event about Wagyu but not one has heard about it outside of Japan. And again, no one is controlling the terms used by each prefecture to promote their own meat. When you travel around Japan, it is like everyone sells the best beef in the world at every corner.
However, do not worry. If you come to Japan and actually try a Wagyu meal, there is no way you will be disappointed.
But if you want to cry of happiness just by feeling the best-tasting meat melting in your mouth, then you should come to Miyazaki prefecture. And if I may add a little piece of information to this already very long article, you should come to Kobayashi city. Indeed, the cows that won the meat categories for Miyazaki Prefecture are actually from Kobayashi city! I know, it’s amazing right!?
Between two meals, you can also marvel at the beauty of Miyazaki prefecture’ landscapes and temples…What an awesome program!
Well, we hope you enjoyed reading this article about the Wagyu Olympics.
If you have any question or comment, please feel free to contact us 😊
Last note (I promise): I also read on the internet that cows are slaughtered right after the Olympics to make meat out of it. This is completely untrue. Once the Olympics are done, the meat that won the best prize is sold to the highest bidder (approximately 50 million yens!) but cows remain untouched. Indeed, the idea is to buy great bulls or cows (from the category 1 to 6) to then breed the best calves possible.
~ Some additional info ~
Overall results for each category (English):
The official results of Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures (in Japanese only):
- Miyazaki Prefecture: http://www.miyazakigyu.jp/zenkyo/
- Kagoshima Prefecture: https://www.pref.kagoshima.jp/ag07/documents/61510_20170921164432-1.pdf
Bonus:
- Miyazaki beef was in the menu of the 90th Academy Awards…! http://english.agrinews.co.jp/?p=7966