Wagyu: A Lesson in Marketing from Japan
JAPAN - Ever since the Japanese wagyu meat hit foreign shores its value has sky-rocketed. Wagyu, famous for the lavish upbringing of cattle, is now regarded as one of the highest quality meats in the world, a lesson that many producers are trying...

SRM Discovered in US Shipment to Tokyo
JAPAN - Japan has announced the suspension of beef from a Californian beef plant after it was revealed that a recent shipment was contaminated with Specified Risk Material (SRM).

Japan Lifts Ban on U.S. Beef Imports From Smithfield Plant
JAPAN - Japan on Thursday lifted a ban on beef imports from a U.S. meatpacker after reviewing the company's steps to improve safety measures, the Agriculture Ministry said.

Japan Studies the Safety of Cloned Meat
JAPAN - Unsatisfied with the recent reports that conclude that meat from cloned animals is safe, Japan has decided to conducts its own experiments.

Prediction: 75,000 Tonnes Shipped from US to Japan
JAPAN - A recent report from the United States Department of Agriculture has said that US beef exports to Japan are expected to increase more than 60% by the end of the year.

Japan Farmers Ask for Understanding on Beef Hike
JAPAN - Japanese beef prices - already the world's highest - are about to go even higher, the country's farmers said Wednesday, warning livestock feed prices have shot up from the global rush for ethanol.

China Wants Japan Beef Smuggling to End
JAPAN - The Chinese government has asked Japan to take appropriate steps to prevent travelers from smuggling Japanese beef into China, according to sources.

Japan Imports Less Beef in October
Japan’s beef imports in October fell by seven per cent from the last year, to 36,080 tonnes, according to Meat and Livestock Australia's market analysts.

Japan Wants Resolution of US Age Restrictions on Beef
JAPAN - Eight Japanese industry groups have submitted a joint request to the Japanese government, asking for an early resolution of the US/Japan beef import protocol negotiations, according to Meat and Livestock Australia.

Meat Hope Put Rabbit In Ground beef, Test Shows
JAPAN - Former executives of bankrupt meatpacking company Meat Hope Co. mixed rabbit meat into ground meat mislabeled as 100 percent beef, according to DNA analysis by Hokkaido police.

Japan Suspends Beef Imports From US Plant
JAPAN - Japan has suspended beef imports from a US meatpacking plant that violated a bilateral accord aimed at limiting the threat from mad cow disease, the government said Wednesday.

U.S. Japan Have "Shared Awareness" Over Safety Of U.S. Beef
JAPAN - Japan and the U.S. have a "shared awareness" on the safety of U.S. beef after a two-day technical meeting, a Japanese official said Aug. 3, as Washington seeks relaxed import restrictions imposed over bovine spongiform encephalopathy concerns....

Daiei To Start Limited U.S. Beef Sales
JAPAN - Daiei Inc. said it will begin stocking American beef again Saturday after stopping sales in February 2004 out of fear of mad cow disease.

Japan To Export Beef To Canada
JAPAN - Japan will export beef to Canada next week for the first time ever.

Japan Studying U.S. Data To Decide On Beef Rules
JAPAN - Japan is studying data provided by the United States on U.S. beef safety as it considers relaxing its rules on beef imports, Japanese Agriculture Ministry officials said on Monday.

Japanese X-Ray System Tops Danish Meat Tests
JAPAN - A Japanese manufactured food x-ray system has been rated number one in performance tests by the Danish Meat Association.

Japan's Beef Wholesale Prices Falling
JAPAN - Wholesale prices of beef have been declining recently in Japan as supplies increased sharply in June following the nation's partial relaxation of import conditions for American beef, industry analysts say.

Japan Ends Talks Without Changes
JAPAN - Japan and the U.S. wrapped up two-day talks Thursday after exchanging views and data on American beef imports, but there was no agreement on Washington's calls for Tokyo to relax its import restrictions, officials said.