When you are ready to go beyond Kobe and Matsusaka, the next Wagyu brand you should try is Ishigaki. Raised on the tropical Island of Ishigaki, Ishigaki Gyu is renowned for its refreshing and sweet taste. The brand is so coveted that it was served as the main dinner dish to Bill Clinton, Vladimir Putin, and other world leaders at the G8 Summer in 2000.
The Ishigaki Island is one of the southernmost islands of Japan with a similar latitude as Hawaii. The cattle there pasture on endless greens under warm sunshine and blue sky while enjoying the invigorating ocean breezes. Their feed consists largely of mineral-rich grass, as it can be harvested five time a year in the mild climate. The consistent warm weather also provides a stress-free environment for the cattle.
Ishigaki Gyu is considered the root of many of Japan’s Wagyu brands. Before Ishigaki had its own brand, it supplied calves to many regions which used these calves to create their own brands. These calves are highly sought after because they enjoy plenty of mineral-rich grass and sugarcane leaves since a young age to build a healthy digestive system and strong limbs.
As its popularity grows, this brand is becoming more difficult to come by, but as the locals like to say, “any day you come across Ishigaki Gyu is a lucky day!”