Omi Wagyu x Okaki Ranch

Omi beef is recognized as one of Japan's top three premium brands, alongside Kobe and Matsusaka beef. Boasting a heritage of over 400 years, it is the oldest beef brand in Japan. Due to the scarcity and high costs of Kobe and Matsusaka beef in the U.S., Omi beef has become the preferred choice.

Historically, shoguns were the military rulers of Japan from the 12th to the 19th century, wielding substantial power and governing vast armies and territories. During the Edo period, the highest-ranked samurai from each prefecture would journey to Edo, the residence of the Shogun. They brought distinctive offerings from their regions; Omi beef was a gift, earning the prestigious title of "Shogun Beef" and “Emperor’s Beef”.

Our Omi Wagyu comes exclusively from Okaki Ranches, a family-run operation founded in 1839. Managed today by the fourth generation, the farm has preserved and refined traditional Japanese cattle-raising techniques originating from the Edo Period. This legacy ensures both consistency and authenticity in every cut of beef.

Okaki operates 2 ranches:

• Okaki Ryuo Ranch (Ogawa, Ukiha City, Fukuoka): Focused on breeding and raising approximately 500 head of Omi cattle annually. The ranch emphasizes a stress-free environment, natural feed, and underground spring water to support animal welfare and enhance marbling, flavor, and texture.

• Okaki Dainaka Ranch (Ogori City, Fukuoka): Established in 2014, this modern facility raises up to 1,000 head of Japanese Black cattle per year. It features advanced livestock housing and care systems to ensure a healthy, clean, and efficient production environment.

Over time, Okaki Ranch has evolved into a fully vertically integrated operation, mastering every stage of Wagyu production—from breeding and raising cattle to processing, packaging, distribution, retail, and even restaurant operations. This closed-loop system ensures quality control, traceability, and consistency at every touchpoint.

By managing the entire supply chain internally, Okaki embodies the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen—continuous improvement. Every step of the process is constantly refined to produce the highest quality Omi beef, delivered with pride and integrity.

Okaki sells its Omi beef products through:

• Physical meat shops: Okaki Kitchen, Al Plaza Store, Kirari Ima Sato Store, and others.

• E-commerce: Official Okaki Online Shop, Rakuten, Yahoo!, and Amazon.
  Products include steaks, roast beef, hamburger steaks, curry, and more for both personal use and gifting.
  Okaki also participates in gift-oriented mail-order services and exports.

Processed Omi beef is distributed both domestically and internationally. Okaki handles logistics through their facilities such as Okaki Kitchen and Okaki Brothers Foods. Export destinations include Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. Distribution partners include World One Co., Ltd. and Island Meat Sales Co., Ltd. The company ensures freshness and safety through careful logistics and traceability systems.

Okaki operates a network of Omi beef specialty restaurants across Japan—including Shibuya, Fukuoka, and Shiga Prefecture—and overseas (such as in Thailand). These restaurants serve premium dishes like Wagyu steak and hamburgers with a focus on delivering "only the best dishes." Notable restaurants include Okaki Honten, VIERRA Otsu, Cocotto Moriyama, and COREDO Nihonbashi. The restaurant division showcases the full experience and flavor of Omi beef, sourced directly from Okaki’s own ranches and processing facilities.

Okaki runs multiple hygienic, traceable processing centers:

• Okaki Kitchen: Handles meat cutting, packaging, and distribution with high hygiene standards.

• Okaki Brothers Foods Co., Ltd.: Specializes in frozen hamburger steaks and croquettes for retail and foodservice clients.
  These facilities uphold strict safety measures and efficient production lines to ensure consistent product quality.

Okaki’s history spans nearly two centuries:

• 1839: Family cattle business begins.

• 1953–1973: Transition to retail and meat wholesaling.

• 1975–1999: Expansion into restaurants and multiple ranches.

• 2000–2020: Growth through new shops, restaurants, and international expansion, including Thailand and major Japanese cities.

  
  Throughout its development, Okaki has remained committed to preserving the heritage of Omi beef, combining traditional techniques with modern innovations to build a vertically integrated beef business.