Kagoshima Domination For Japan's 12th Wagyu Olympics, Miyazaki Wins The Quality Of Cow Meat

Illustration of the Wagyu race. (Wikimedia Commons/Atsasebo)

JAKARTA - Kagoshima and Miyazaki prefectures on Monday won the grand prize at the close of Japan's five-day rice meat competition, also known as the "Wagyu Olympics," held in the southwest of the Rising Sun Country.

The prime minister's award for the best cow breeding based on physical and fur was given to Kagoshima, the host of the 12th event. Meanwhile, Miyazaki's neighbor won the main prize for beef quality.

"Sunday is my wedding anniversary. I can give the best gift to my wife," said Iki Fujiyama, 47, who received the award on behalf of the Kagoshima team.

Meanwhile, Miyazaki's team thanked their livestock, saying, "We want to continue producing meat that will make people say Miyazaki beef is delicious."

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who attended the closing ceremony at Kir Kalimantan, Kagoshima Prefecture hopes Japan's Wagyu meat will continue to develop better.

"Japan's tug of war and productivity will increase and continue to the next generation," Prime Minister Kishida said.

With Kagoshima winning six of nine divisions in competition, Governor Koichi Shiota said "Kagoshima has, without a doubt, the best Wagyu meat in Japan," adding that he wanted to "promot our elite black cattle."

Interestingly, this year's event recorded a record 438 cows from 41 prefectures, a total of 47 prefectures in Japan, in this year's competition, with more than 300,000 people attending for five days.

It is known, Japan's Wagyu Olympics are held once every five years. The next Olympics will be held by Hokkaido in northern Japan.