How to Buy Real Japanese Wagyu in the UK (and Spot the Fakes)

"Wagyu" is one of the most misused words in food. In the UK you'll see it on burgers, pies and supermarket steaks. Some of it is excellent British or Australian wagyu. Some is a cross with only a small share of Wagyu genetics. Very little of it is Japanese. Here is how to know exactly what you're buying.

The 7 checks for real Japanese Wagyu

  1. Country of origin: Japan. Not "Wagyu-style", not "Japanese-style". It should say born, raised and processed in Japan.
  2. A Japanese grade. For example A4 or A5. These letters and numbers are given by the Japan Meat Grading Association. Other countries use different scales.
  3. A BMS number. A Beef Marbling Standard score from 1 to 12. A5 means BMS 8 to 12. A4 means BMS 5 to 7. See grading explained.
  4. The breed. Usually Japanese Black (Kuroge Wagyu).
  5. A 10-digit cattle ID. Every cow in Japan has one, by law. You can look it up yourself (see below).
  6. A grading certificate. A good seller can show you the Japanese grading details for the animal.
  7. A sensible price. Real Japanese A5 sirloin and ribeye usually sell in the UK for roughly £200 to £400 per kg. If it's much cheaper, ask why.

How to trace the 10-digit ID yourself

Since 2003, Japanese law has required every cow to carry a 10-digit ID from birth. The National Livestock Breeding Center keeps a public online register.

  1. Find the 10-digit ID. At Wagyu Reserve, ask us and we'll send the ID and grading details for your order.
  2. Go to the official cattle ID search at id.nlbc.go.jp. The site is in Japanese, so use your browser's translate option.
  3. Enter the number. You'll see the animal's date of birth, sex, breed, its mother's ID, and every prefecture and farm it lived in until processing.

For certified Kobe beef, you can also check the ID on the Kobe Beef association's website. See Kobe beef vs Wagyu.

The Japan Wagyu mark

The Japan Livestock Industry Association created a unified logo in 2007 for Wagyu born and raised in Japan, and redesigned it in 2017 to put the word "JAPAN" up front. You may see it on menus and packaging from approved exporters. It is a helpful sign, but always check the ID and grade too.

Warning signs

  • "Wagyu" with no country of origin.
  • "Kobe-style", "Wagyu-style" or "Wagyu-cross" when sold as if it were Japanese.
  • Cheap "Kobe" or "A5" burgers.
  • A grade like "MS9" or "BMS 9+" with no country. That is often the Australian scale, which is different from the Japanese one.
  • No ID number, no certificate, and no straight answers.

British, Australian and American wagyu

These can be very good beef. But they are a different product. They are often crossbred: "F1" means half Wagyu, half another breed such as Angus or Holstein. "Fullblood" means 100% Wagyu genetics. None of them is Japanese Wagyu, and none can be graded A5 by the Japan Meat Grading Association. Read What is Wagyu?

Questions to ask any seller

  • Is it born and raised in Japan?
  • What breed is it?
  • What is the exact grade and BMS number?
  • Can you give me the 10-digit cattle ID?
  • Who imports it into the UK?
  • Was it frozen, and when?

Our answers

Wagyu Reserve sells 100% Japanese Black Wagyu, graded A4 or A5 in Japan by the Japan Meat Grading Association, imported through Tajimaya UK, a specialist Japanese Wagyu importer. It is vacuum-sealed, frozen and delivered next-day across mainland UK. Ask us for the grading and 10-digit ID details for your order at support@wagyureserve.co.uk.

Back to the Wagyu Guide

Quay lại blog