Nose Print Certificate

Every registered Wagyu calf in Japan receives a nose print certificate at birth — a physical impression of the calf's nose, which is as unique as a human fingerprint. This certificate follows the animal through its entire life and connects to a comprehensive traceability database.

The nose print system, combined with Japan's national cattle traceability law (enacted in 2003), creates an unbroken chain of documentation from birth to plate: - Birth: Nose print taken, calf registered with a 10-digit ID number - Lineage: Parents and grandparents documented (3-generation pedigree minimum) - Movement: Every farm transfer recorded - Feeding: Diet and management records maintained - Slaughter: Processing facility, date, and JMGA grading results linked to the ID - Retail: The 10-digit number can be looked up by consumers on Japan's national traceability website

When you buy authentic Japanese Wagyu from a reputable retailer, you should receive documentation that includes or references the animal's individual ID number. This number lets you verify the prefecture, production date, and grade on the Japanese government's traceability database.

For consumers, the nose print certificate system is the ultimate proof of authenticity. No other beef-producing country has anything comparable. If a seller claims their product is Japanese Wagyu but cannot provide a traceability number, treat that as a red flag.