Oita Wagyu

Oita, on the northeastern side of Kyushu, markets its Japanese Black Wagyu under the historical name of the region: Bungo beef (Bungo-gyu), a brand whose history is generally dated to 1918. Producer materials use the prefecture's mountainous landscape, water, and balanced marbling as part of the brand story; those descriptions are not a substitute for the grade.

In 2018, the brand's centennial, the prefecture introduced a premium tier called Oita Wagyu, reserved for Bungo cattle reaching quality grade 4 or 5. Oita's cattle have a strong competition record, including a Prime Minister's Award in the sire division at the 2017 National Competitive Exhibition of Wagyu.

Look for the Oita, Bungo, or Oita Wagyu name with a Japanese grade. As Bungo beef is less internationally famous than Kobe or Miyazaki, a seller offering it should be able to point to the prefecture of origin and grade rather than leaning on the brand name alone.