Genuine Kobe Beef

For generations, Kobe Beef has stood as a symbol of culinary luxury, revered by celebrities, royalty, and gourmet enthusiasts across the globe. Renowned for its intense marbling, buttery texture, and sophisticated flavor profile, Kobe beef offers a dining experience that remains unparalleled. Interestingly, the exceptional quality of this beef even inspired the naming of basketball legend Kobe Bryant. Recognized as the most prestigious Wagyu brand in the world, Kobe beef is often described as the Rolls-Royce of beef, epitomizing opulence and excellence in every bite.

The Kobe beef supply is carefully curated from just 12 Tajima Fullblood bulls each year, selected by the government for their superior traits. Only about 10% of the 5,500 eligible cattle are exported annually from a select group of certified farmers, ensuring that only the finest beef bears the prestigious Kobe label.

The esteemed reputation of Kobe beef is maintained through rigorous production standards set by the Kobe Beef Association. To bear the iconic Japanese chrysanthemum mark, certified Kobe beef must meet stringent criteria:

• Derived from the Tajima bloodline, raised and processed exclusively in Japan's Hyogo Prefecture, mirroring the exclusivity of true Champagne from France's Champagne region.

• Graded A5 or A4, with a Beef Marbling Score (BMS) of 6 or above.

• Adheres to additional conditions listed on their website here.

Any Wagyu labeled as "Kobe" outside these standards is not genuine Kobe Beef.

In 2024, Trex proudly signed up the most Kobe Beef accounts in the nation, earning us a prestigious industry award in recognition of our leadership and dedication. As an Official Certified Importer of Kobe Beef, we work closely with the Kobe Beef Marketing & Distribution Promotion Association to ensure the authenticity and integrity of every cut we distribute.

Sales of genuine Kobe Beef are strictly limited to members of the Kobe Beef Association—which includes certified farms, wholesalers, retailers, and restaurants. All certified establishments are officially listed on the Kobe Beef Marketing Association’s website.

Carrying Kobe Beef significantly enhances your brand’s prestige. It communicates a commitment to excellence and signals to your customers that your establishment offers only the most exclusive and highest-quality culinary experiences. This distinction sets you apart as a leader in a competitive industry.

Interested in becoming a certified Kobe Beef retailer?
Please contact us—we’re here to help you elevate your business with one of the most celebrated delicacies in the world.

Trex: Leading the Way in Kobe Beef Excellence

In 2024, Trex proudly signed up the most Kobe Beef accounts in the nation, earning us a prestigious industry award in recognition of our leadership and dedication. As an Official Certified Importer of Kobe Beef, we work closely with the Kobe Beef Marketing & Distribution Promotion Association to ensure the authenticity and integrity of every cut we distribute.

Sales of genuine Kobe Beef are strictly limited to members of the Kobe Beef Association—which includes certified farms, wholesalers, retailers, and restaurants. All certified establishments are officially listed on the Kobe Beef Marketing Association’s website.

Carrying Kobe Beef significantly enhances your brand’s prestige. It communicates a commitment to excellence and signals to your customers that your establishment offers only the most exclusive and highest-quality culinary experiences. This distinction sets you apart as a leader in a competitive industry.

Back-to-Back Kobe Beef Gold Award Winner: 2024 & 2025

The Japanese Wagyu World Auction is a prestigious industry event in Japan that brings together the country’s finest wagyu brands, including Kobe, Matsusaka, and Ōmi, with elite buyers from around the world. The Gold Award represents the single highest-quality carcass at the event, with each brand presenting its very best selection. More than an auction, it is a celebration of wagyu craftsmanship and a stage for true bragging rights among those who travel directly to Japan in search of the world’s best wagyu.

Trex is proud to have been part of the Kobe Beef Gold Award wins in both 2024 and 2025 at the Japanese Wagyu World Auction, held during the Himeji Wagyu Master event in Hyogo Prefecture. In each case, our customers traveled to Japan with us and personally purchased the Gold Award–winning carcass on site. Trex then managed the full import process on their behalf, ensuring the winning Kobe Beef was delivered to the U.S. with complete traceability and care.

These wins reflect Trex’s ability to identify the very best Kobe Beef presented at the event and provide rare, direct access to the highest level of wagyu sourcing. Partnering with Trex means standing alongside Japan’s top producers and buyers, securing world-class wagyu firsthand, and sharing in the credibility and recognition that come with winning at the highest level of the global wagyu industry.

Mark Melnick, the former president of Trex, is celebrated as a trailblazer in the Japanese Wagyu industry and continues to be one of its most impactful figures. He independently developed Trex into one of the premier importers of Japanese Wagyu, firmly establishing the company as a market leader in the U.S. His unparalleled expertise and steadfast dedication have established benchmarks for excellence, quality, and authenticity within the industry.

Mark holds the position of Commissioner and Official Inspector for Kobe Beef in the United States, a role that underscores his essential contribution to preserving the integrity and prestige of Kobe beef across the nation.

Learn more here.

The pedigree information and production history of your beef can be conveniently traced using the 10-digit ID number found on the Wagyu certificate. This number is available at the retailer or restaurant where you purchased the Kobe Beef. This system enables you to verify the authenticity of your Kobe Beef.

Link to the certification system