Ito Ranch: Japan’s most prestigious farm and the top producer of Matsusaka Beef. Founded in 1953 near Tsu, in Mie Prefecture, it specializes in kuroge wagyū cattle. The ranch has been passed down through three generations and is now led by Horiki Ito, who has won the Matsusaka Beef Carcass Contest six times — a feat no other farm has achieved more than twice.

Raising cattle at Ito Ranch is based on four pillars: pedigree, diet, long rearing, and a stress-free life. Hiroki Ito carefully selects the calves and raises them for 35 to 45 months, a longer period than other farms. The result is meat richer in oleic acid, with a lower melting point, a sweeter flavor, and exceptional tenderness.

Ito Ranch is the only farm in the world whose beef requires a license to be served. Establishments must meet strict requirements and complete training to obtain the symbolic black cow statue. Akaneya is the first restaurant outside Japan to achieve this.