Food · Fermented foods
Berkshire Pork Cuts (Kurobuta Medium-Breed)
ぶた 中型種 黒豚 (バークシャー) (Buta chūgata-shu kurobuta (Bākushā))
Also known as: Bākushā, Berkshire, Kurobuta cuts, Medium-breed black pork, Kagoshima Kurobuta, 黒豚バークシャー, 中型種
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| Category | Food |
|---|---|
| Japanese labeling name | ぶた 中型種 黒豚 (バークシャー) — かた / かたロース / ばら / もも / そともも / ヒレ / ロース |
| Common Japanese notations | バークシャー, Berkshire, 黒豚, 中型種, 鹿児島黒豚 |
| Origin | Berkshire pork (Sus scrofa domesticus, Berkshire pure-breed); medium-breed (中型種) classification distinct from large-breed (大型種) commercial Yorkshire/Landrace/Duroc-cross; principal domestic regions **Kagoshima (>70% of Japanese Berkshire production — protected GI 'Kagoshima Kurobuta')**, Okinawa (Agu — separate native breed), Saitama (Tokyo Saitama Kurobuta); **finer marbling, sweeter umami, premium price** vs sangen-ton; **Kagoshima Kurobuta is registered Geographic Indication brand**; **mandatory minimum 50% Berkshire-blood for 'kurobuta' label** under Japan Pork Industry Council guidance |
| Typical functions | Premium tonkatsu and shōga-yaki — defining premium-tier home/foodservice cuts, Premium yakiniku and shabu-shabu cuts, Premium ham, sausage, processed-meat raw material, 7 standard cuts: kata, kata-rōsu, rōsu, bara, momo, soto-momo, hire, **Kagoshima Kurobuta GI-brand top-tier** |
| Regulatory status in Japan | Standard food labeling. **'Kurobuta' label requires minimum 50% Berkshire-blood under Japan Pork Industry Council guidance.** **'Kagoshima Kurobuta' is registered Geographic Indication — strict origin and breed-purity required.** **Pork JAS-recommended-disclosure allergen.** |
Berkshire pork (バークシャー / 黒豚) is Japan's medium-breed black pork — Kagoshima >70% production. **'Kagoshima Kurobuta' is registered GI brand**, **'Kurobuta' label requires ≥50% Berkshire-blood**. Premium tonkatsu, yakiniku, ham/sausage. 7 standard cuts: kata, kata-rōsu, rōsu, bara, momo, soto-momo, hire.
Classification
Tags below link to other ingredients sharing the same attribute, so you can pivot from one ingredient to its peers.
Product applications
Functions
Regulatory tags
Origin
Used in (typical product categories)
Finished-product categories that commonly include this ingredient in Japanese-market formulations.
- Fresh kurobuta retail (premium, 7-cut variants)
- Premium-processed B2B (premium ham/sausage)
- Kagoshima Kurobuta GI-brand retail
- Foodservice premium tonkatsu-restaurant raw material
What it is
Sus scrofa domesticus Berkshire breed (medium-breed pork). 'Kurobuta' label minimum 50% Berkshire-blood.
Typical uses in Japanese products
Premium tonkatsu and shōga-yaki.
Premium yakiniku and shabu-shabu.
Premium ham, sausage, processed-meat.
Kagoshima Kurobuta GI-brand top-tier.
7 standard cuts retail.
For OEM: 7-cut premium retail, premium-processed B2B, GI-brand retail, premium tonkatsu-restaurant raw material.
Regulatory classification in Japan
Standard food labeling.
**'Kurobuta' label requires ≥50% Berkshire-blood (Japan Pork Industry Council guidance).**
**'Kagoshima Kurobuta' Geographic Indication — strict origin and breed-purity.**
**Pork JAS-recommended-disclosure allergen.**
Regulatory classification in other markets
| EU | Berkshire is recognized rare-breed in UK/EU (rare-breed pork market). Japanese Kurobuta export-premium category. |
|---|---|
| USA | **'Kurobuta' is recognized US restaurant marketing term — but US 'Kurobuta' may not meet Japanese 50% Berkshire standard. Verify breed purity.** |
| China | Premium import market. |
| Korea | Premium import market. |
Example products
Example finished products will be added after verification.
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Sharing similar functions
Ingredients that overlap on functional benefit tags.
From the same origin
Other ingredients that share an origin classification.
References
- MEXT Standard Tables of Food Composition — ぶた 中型種 各部位
Last updated: 2026-04-28. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.