Food · Fermented foods

Kiji-niku (Japanese Pheasant)

きじ 肉 (Kiji-niku)

Also known as: Kiji-niku, Japanese pheasant, Phasianus versicolor, 雉肉

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At a glance

CategoryFood
Japanese labeling nameきじ 肉
Common Japanese notationsきじ 肉, 雉肉, キジ肉
OriginJapanese pheasant (Phasianus versicolor); national bird of Japan; both wild-hunted and farmed; modern farming in Iwate, Tokushima, Tokushima
Typical functionsPremium kaiseki and jibie, Kiji-nabe traditional
Regulatory status in JapanStandard food labeling. Wild-hunted origin documentation if applicable. Not a designated allergen.

Kiji-niku (きじ 肉 / 雉肉) is Japanese pheasant meat — Japan's national bird, both wild-hunted and farmed. Premium kaiseki and jibie cuisine.

Classification

Tags below link to other ingredients sharing the same attribute, so you can pivot from one ingredient to its peers.

Used in (typical product categories)

Finished-product categories that commonly include this ingredient in Japanese-market formulations.

  • Frozen kiji retail (limited specialty)

What it is

Phasianus versicolor Japanese pheasant.

Typical uses in Japanese products

Premium kaiseki.

Kiji-nabe.

For OEM: foodservice supply.

Regulatory classification in Japan

Standard food labeling. Wild origin documentation if applicable. Not a designated allergen.

Regulatory classification in other markets

EUEstablished global pheasant trade (different species).
USANiche specialty.
ChinaNiche specialty.
KoreaNiche specialty.

Example products

Example finished products will be added after verification.

All brand names and product names referenced anywhere on this site are the property of their respective owners. Example entries are provided for informational purposes only and do not imply endorsement.

References

  1. MEXT Standard Tables of Food Composition — きじ 肉

Last updated: 2026-04-28. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.

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