Food · Fermented foods
Uma-niku (Horse Meat)
うま 肉 (Uma-niku)
Also known as: Uma-niku, Horse meat, Basashi (raw horse sashimi), Equus caballus, 馬肉, Sakura-niku
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| Category | Food |
|---|---|
| Japanese labeling name | うま 肉 赤肉 |
| Common Japanese notations | うま 肉, 馬肉, ウマ肉, 桜肉, 馬刺し, Basashi |
| Origin | Horse meat (Equus caballus); principal modern Japanese production region Kumamoto (volume leader, Aso-area heritage), Fukushima (Aizu basashi heritage); significant Canadian, Mexican, French imports for value-positioning |
| Typical functions | Basashi (raw horse sashimi) — defining Kumamoto, Aizu, Nagano regional cuisine, Kumamoto bashi-niku premium gift retail |
| Regulatory status in Japan | Standard food labeling. Kumamoto Bashi-niku, Aizu basashi regional brands. Domestic vs imported origin disclosure essential. Not a designated allergen but consumer awareness varies. |
Uma-niku (うま 肉 / 馬肉) — horse meat — is a heritage Japanese cuisine ingredient with Kumamoto (Aso heritage) and Fukushima (Aizu basashi) as the heritage regions. Basashi (raw horse sashimi) is the iconic regional cuisine. Significant imports from Canada, Mexico, France for value-positioning.
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.
- Frozen basashi sets (Kumamoto premium, Aizu)
- Horse meat retail and foodservice
What it is
Equus caballus horse meat.
Typical uses in Japanese products
Basashi raw sashimi — Kumamoto, Aizu signature.
Premium gift retail.
For OEM: basashi production OEM, regional gift retail.
Regulatory classification in Japan
Standard food labeling. Regional brands. Domestic vs imported disclosure essential. Not a designated allergen.
Regulatory classification in other markets
| EU | Established European horse meat market (France, Italy, Belgium). |
|---|---|
| USA | Limited US horse meat market — federal restrictions on slaughter. |
| China | Niche specialty positioning. |
| Korea | Niche specialty positioning. |
Example products
Example finished products will be added after verification of Kumamoto, Aizu, or imported origin.
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.
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Sharing similar functions
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From the same origin
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References
- MEXT Standard Tables of Food Composition — うま 肉 赤肉
Last updated: 2026-04-28. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.