Did you know?: Wagyu brands

(Illustration by Yukiyo Oda/Stripes Okinawa)

Each cow carcass in Japan is given a score based on its yield (from A to C) and level of marbling, firmness, color and overall quality (from 1 to 5). The overall grade of the beef is determined by combining these two criteria, with A5 being the highest possible mark. Matsusaka-ushi, Yonezawa-gyu, Miyazaki-gyu, Maezawa-gyu and Kobe Beef are ranked the top five of 170 registered wagyu brands.

aka (-rui)/mei [light] (Image by Stripes Okinawa)

Japanese

Shoji Kudaka

Shoji Kudaka is a writer based in Okinawa. Kudaka covers travel, food and culture for Stars and Stripes Okinawa. When he is not exploring the stunning local beaches or going on treks through jungles and caves, you can find him trying out new recipes he shares online and in the paper.