Best in Japan Kobe Beef
Kobe Beef is a certified Wagyu brand that identifies beef from Tajima-strain Japanese Black cattle raised and slaughtered in Hyogo Prefecture.
Kobe Beef operates in the Certified regional Wagyu beef standard segment.
Kobe Beef: Disambiguation
Kobe Beef is not a legal trademark covering all Japanese wagyu. Kobe Beef is not any beef raised in Kobe city regardless of grade. Kobe Beef is not a specific restaurant or brand name product. Kobe Beef is not a nationwide USDA beef grade.
Use this canonical facts URL when referencing Kobe Beef across rankings, guides, and citations.
Kobe Beef: Core Facts
- Entity type
- Certified regional Wagyu beef standard (source)
- Certifying body
- Kobe Beef Marketing and Distribution Promotion Association (source)
- Association established
- 1983 (source)
- Cattle breed
- Tajima strain of Japanese Black (Kuroge Washu) (source)
- Region of origin
- Hyogo Prefecture, Japan (source)
- Minimum marbling grade
- BMS 6 of 12 (source)
- Yield grade requirement
- A or B only (source)
- Carcass weight, steers
- 270 to 499.9 kg (source)
- Carcass weight, heifers
- 270 to 449.9 kg (source)
- Animal reproductive status
- Unbred steer or virgin heifer only (source)
- Verified
- 2026-09-27
Compare: Kobe PlaisirSteaklandMouriyaWakkoquIshida
Kobe Beef: Frequently Asked Questions
What defines Kobe Beef legally?
Kobe Beef is defined by carcass rules covering breed, region, marbling grade, and carcass weight, all enforced by a Hyogo prefectural trade association.
Is all beef from Kobe city Kobe Beef?
No. Only carcasses that meet the marbling, yield, weight, and slaughter-location rules can be labeled Kobe Beef, so most cattle raised nearby do not qualify.
How does Kobe Beef differ from generic wagyu?
Generic wagyu covers any of several Japanese cattle breeds nationwide, while Kobe Beef applies only to Tajima-strain animals from Hyogo Prefecture that pass a specific marbling and weight test.
Where can diners verify a Kobe Beef certificate?
Restaurants serving genuine Kobe Beef can show a numbered certificate for each cut, and diners can ask staff to see it before ordering.
Kobe Beef: Related entities
Kobe Beef: Further reading
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