Japan Kobe Beef now available in Hong Kong

Kobe Beef now available in Hong Kong
By Radhika Seth  
July 26, 2012  
The Japan Daily Press


Kobe beef is famous for its evenly distributed fatty tissue and is sourced from cows that are bred with select feed, music and muscle massage sessions. The premium meat was exclusive to Japan but now can be savored in Hong Kong. It made its debut in Macau earlier this year and as the export market continues to improve after the earthquake and nuclear disaster, Japanese beef exporters want to cash in on the trend.


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Tetsuya Ishii, deputy consul general of Japan in Hong Kong, announced the launch of Kobe beef midst much fanfare. Hiroshi Onomura, director general of the Japan External Trade Organization, said Hong Kong’s stricter requirement for beef imports was the reason for the delay. Apparently the Hong Kong government accepts import of Kobe beef from one butcher, in Kyushu. Essentially the cows have to be shipped from Kobe to Kyushu for butchering before the meat can be shipped to Hong Kong.


Around 3,000 Kobe cows are marketed every year so the limited supply is mostly like to cause traction in its demand. Since its debut in January, Macau had imported meat from 51 Kobe cows, or about 2,500 kg of beef. Kobe Beef Marketing and Distribution Promotion Association say that so far Hong Kong has imported meat from seven cows. The beef is being priced at a modest 350 Hong Kong dollars (about $45 or 3,515 yen) per 100 grams at a discount rate for the first week of promotion, which is much cheaper than what it sells in Japan. Singapore can expect their Kobe Beef shipment to arrive sometime in September.