Wagyu Olympics (Zenkoku Wagyu Noryoku Kyoshinkai)
The National Competitive Exhibition of Wagyu, held every five years — the most prestigious competition in the Japanese beef industry.
The Zenkoku Wagyu Noryoku Kyoshinkai (全国和牛能力共進会), informally called the "Wagyu Olympics," is the most important competition in the Japanese beef industry. Held every five years since 1966, it brings together the best Wagyu from every prefecture in Japan.
The competition format: Cattle are evaluated across multiple categories including: - Live animal conformation and appearance - Carcass quality (post-slaughter grading) - Breeding stock quality - Regional breed improvement achievement
The competition is taken extremely seriously — prefectures spend years preparing their entries, selecting and feeding specific animals for the competition. Winning the Wagyu Olympics is a matter of enormous regional pride and has significant economic impact. A prefecture's victory can boost its Wagyu brand value for years.
Recent results: Miyazaki Prefecture has dominated recent competitions, winning the top honor three consecutive times (2007, 2012, 2017). The 2022 competition was held in Kagoshima, with strong performances from Kagoshima, Miyazaki, Oita, and other prefectures.
Why it matters to consumers: The Wagyu Olympics drives continuous genetic improvement across Japan. Prefectures invest heavily in breeding programs to compete, which ultimately produces better beef for everyone. The competition also provides a benchmark — winning entries represent the absolute pinnacle of what's possible in beef production.
The results also influence market prices and brand prestige. Following Miyazaki's triple win, demand and prices for Miyazaki Wagyu increased significantly both domestically and in export markets.