Choosing the RIght Wagyu at a Japanese Supermarket

Sometimes we get asked, “what is the price of Wagyu in Japan?” or “is Wagyu cheaper in Japan, instead of (insert country here)?”. The truth is that it varies from place to place, even within Japan. Not only that, it varies from brand to brand, cut to cut, and many other factors.

With over 300 brands of Wagyu and over six thousand supermarkets nationwide, there are higher priced wagyu when compared to others. One of the points we try to share here is that besides looking at just price, it is most important to understand the origin of Wagyu.

That is because certain supermarkets sell Wagyu from large programs, at a higher price, than other supermarkets that offer unique brands and programs. So price alone isn’t the determining factor when it comes to quality. Here in the Kansai area, we’ve experimented with Ikari, Pal Yamato, Coop

Kagoshima Wagyu Striploin from Pal Yamato

But to answer the question once and for all, it all depends where you go in Japan to find your Wagyu. If you are just looking for grade, there are those to serve you. If you are looking for the stories of the farmers, there are also those. But a lot of the butchers in Japan, don’t even show grade, since customers are loyal to them for a variety of other factors.

In essence, there isn’t one answer to these questions.

The only right thing is to purchase knowing what you are purchasing, by informing yourself either by asking or reading information about it