Why source from Japan
Mie's Matsusaka GI; female-only top grade; 30+ month fattening cycle distinct from typical 24-28 month wagyu.
Key spec
BMS ≥8 (often 10-12); melting point 22-27°C (lower than Kobe / Omi); top-grade BMS 12 commands ¥5,000+/100g.
Typical end-product
Ultra-premium fine-dining export, gift-economy boxes, hospitality VIP cuisine.
At a glance
- Suppliers listed
- 2 suppliers
- Typical MOQ
- 1–10 kg cuts; 100 g – 1 kg specialty grades
- Typical lead time
- 8–14 weeks (allocation-controlled)
- Regions of origin
- Mie (Matsusaka district, exclusively female heifers)
- Category
- Food ingredients
- Harvest season
- Year-round (30+ month aging)
- Japan regulatory status
- Matsusaka Beef GI; cooperative-managed; strict Mie cooperative standards
- Japanese name
- 松阪牛
- Romaji
- 松阪牛
About this ingredient
Matsusaka Beef from Mie Prefecture — one of Japan's three most-prestigious wagyu brands (along with Kobe and Omi). Distinguished by extended fattening period (often 30+ months on a high-quality fodder) and exclusively female (virgin heifer) cattle for the top grade. The 'Tokusan Matsusaka Ushi' (Premium Matsusaka Beef) sub-label is the most-prized; some prized cattle command per-head prices over $30,000 at auction.
Regulatory status
| Japan | Matsusaka Beef GI; cooperative-managed; strict Mie cooperative standards |
|---|---|
| EU | Beef import; GI under EU-Japan EPA |
| United States | USDA FSIS approved Japanese facilities; FDA Prior Notice |
| China | GACC; meat-import licensing |
Looking for alternatives?
Common reasons buyers swap to a different ingredient — and what we'd suggest based on this ingredient's profile.
Vegan / plant-based alternatives
Matsusaka Beef (Wagyu GI) is animal-derived. If you need a non-animal source with similar functions, consider:
Sansho Pepper
山椒
Zanthoxylum piperitum source; INCI Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract; MOQ from 1–10 kg (dried peppercorn); 100 g – 5 kg (powder).
Plant-based· shares 3 categories
Wasabi Powder
山葵粉末
Wasabia japonica (Eutrema japonicum) source; INCI Wasabia Japonica Root Powder; MOQ from 1–10 kg (powder); 100 kg+ (bulk paste).
Plant-based· shares 3 categories
Shio Koji
塩麹
MOQ from 20–100 kg.
Plant-based· shares 3 categories
When does it make sense to swap an ingredient? Read the swap guide →
Japanese suppliers
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Last updated: 2026-05-05