NATIONAL WAGYU DAY

June 21 is National Wagyu Day on the National Day Calendar® to celebrate the delicacy of Wagyu and spread awareness about the rigorous authentication process taken for Wagyu. For an entire day, we are celebrating alongside steak and beef enthusiasts, plus encouraging everyone to experience the delicious taste of the finest beef in the world.

#NATIONALWAGYUDAY

National Wagyu Day invites seasoned Wagyu connoisseurs as well as first timers to celebrate the delicacy of Wagyu. In addition, to make the distinction between Japanese, American, and Australian Wagyu known. Also, the authentication process. Authenticating Wagyu, especially authentic Japanese Wagyu, is a complex process with strict regulations and controls. In fact, not all Wagyu is Japanese, which is why authentic Japanese Wagyu is such a delicacy.

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The spirit of National Wagyu Day is special. It welcomes those who are trying Wagyu for the first time and seasoned Wagyu connoisseurs, on Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, to celebrate the delicacy of Wagyu and to learn about its rigorous authentication process. That also means one thing, more time to enjoy Wagyu! ~Steve Haddadin

Wagyu, meaning Japanese cattle, refers to four specific breeds of beef cattle that originated in Japan. These unique breeds of cattle produce a type of marbled beef that have an extreme tenderness and a rich, savory flavor when cooked. In fact, the tenderness of the meat creates a melt-in-your mouth experience.

American Wagyu comes crossbreeding full blood Wagyu cattle with Angus. Japanese Wagyu cattle are bred solely as authentic because Japanese Wagyu cattle has been only bred in Japan. One way to tell the difference between American and Japanese Wagyu is Japanese Wagyu is normally boneless when imported. In addition, Japanese Wagyu will always have a Certificate of Authenticity, even if served in a restaurant. Verifying authentic Wagyu requires a cattle ID number, which is on the authentication certificate that could be obtained from a butcher or the restaurant where you are enjoying it at.

Tips to Verify Authentic Wagyu

Obtain a copy of the authentication certificate and locate the Cattle ID number.

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Enter the Cattle ID number on the Japanese Carcass Verification Bureau website. The website is in Japanese, be sure to translate it to a language you are familiar with if you do not understand Japanese.
Lineage (ancestry) information that verifies the beef as a registered Wagyu breed.
Grading according to Japanese Wagyu standards that includes marbling information, meat color, fat texture and content, and quality of the beef.

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Raising cattle by American standards and regulations differ from how Japanese raise cattle. First, American Wagyu comes from imported breeds of cattle raised in the U.S. directly from descendants of Japanese Wagyu. Japanese Wagyu cattle are bred solely as authentic because Japanese Wagyu cattle has been only bred in Japan. One way to tell the difference between American and Japanese Wagyu is Japanese Wagyu is normally boneless when imported. In addition, Japanese Wagyu will always have a Certificate of Authenticity, even if served in a restaurant.

5 Fun Facts about Wagyu

Wagyu cattle receive spa treatments in Japan almost daily. In fact, daily brushing, massages, and skin treatments to minimize stress and promote better marbling.
Japan hosts the National Wagyu Competition each year where breeders compete for prestigious awards in marbling, texture, and overall quality.

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Wagyu fat is healthier for the human body than olive oil or even a fillet of salmon!
Wagyu cattle dates back almost 35,000 and was originally used for agriculture purposes, such as plowing fields and pulling carts. Initially, farmers would breed Wagyu based on their endurance and strength to benefit farm work.
There are four main types of Wagyu cattle: Japanese Black, Japanese Brown, Japanese Polled, and Japanese Shorthorn.

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6 WAYS TO CELEBRATE WAGYU

There are many ways to celebrate National Wagyu Day and we are encouraging you to take advantage of this food holiday by participating in as many ways you can.

If you are a Wagyu expert, we recommend inviting someone who has never had Wagyu out to dinner so they can experience this delicious meat, too!
Head over to your local steakhouse that serves Japanese Wagyu and request a copy of the authentication certificate.
Pick up some authentic Wagyu from your local butcher and host a Wagyu tasting party.
Attend a Wagyu cooking class to learn the art of preparing Wagyu and a bit of history, too.
Research the history of the wagyu on your plate by the authentication certificate on the Japanese.
Visit the official National Wagyu Day website to learn more about this delicious food holiday.