NIKUJILLE Launches “WAGYU MARKET” A Global Online Platform Directly Connecting Wagyu Farmers with International Buyers

— Building a New Infrastructure to Bring Japan’s Finest Wagyu to the World —

https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000003.000176131.html

NIKUJILLE Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Fukuoka, Japan; CEO: James Arita) is pleased to announce the launch of “WAGYU MARKET” (https://wagyu-market.com/), a new online platform that directly connects Japanese Wagyu producers with international buyers.

WAGYU MARKET is designed to remove the structural barriers that have long limited Wagyu exports to only a handful of large-scale operators.
By centralizing and managing all export-related processes—including regulatory compliance, certification, documentation, negotiation, and international logistics—NIKUJILLE enables even small and mid-sized Wagyu farms to access global markets without changing their existing day-to-day operations.

The Silent Crisis Facing Wagyu Producers

Through years of hands-on involvement in Wagyu exports, NIKUJILLE has witnessed a growing crisis among Japanese Wagyu farmers.

Although the number of Wagyu cattle has shown temporary stabilization in the 2020s, many producers continue to exit the industry due to succession challenges and declining profitability. Domestic beef consumption in Japan continues to shrink, while farm numbers decrease year after year.

At the same time, exports of Japanese beef are expanding rapidly. In 2023, export volume reached approximately 10,113 metric tons, marking a 20% year-on-year increase and the highest level on record.

Exports represent one of the few remaining growth paths for Wagyu producers.
Yet in reality, only a limited number of farms are able to seize this opportunity.

Why Is Wagyu Export Limited to a Few?

Exporting Wagyu requires navigating a complex and constantly changing landscape:

• Language barriers

• Extensive country-specific export documentation

• Frequently changing quarantine and import regulations

• Coordination with slaughterhouses, processors, and logistics providers

• Negotiation, contracting, and payment with overseas buyers

Conditions that were acceptable six months ago may suddenly become invalid.
Managing these challenges demands specialized expertise and dedicated personnel—resources that most farmers simply do not have.

As a result, Wagyu exports have remained concentrated among a small number of large operators.

“Raise the Cattle—We Handle the Rest”

With WAGYU MARKET, farmers continue to do exactly what they do best: raise and ship their cattle.

NIKUJILLE serves as a central hub, handling:

• Country-specific regulatory and quarantine compliance

• Halal and other certification processes

• Communication with international buyers

• Coordination with slaughterhouses and processing facilities

• Export documentation and procedures

• International logistics planning and management

This allows producers to bring their Wagyu to the world without altering their existing workflows, transforming their cattle into truly global products.

From the Farm, Directly to the World

WAGYU MARKET enables international buyers to source Wagyu directly from producers whose craftsmanship and philosophy define the true value of Japanese beef.

The platform features award-winning Wagyu, including Arita Wagyu, which received a Gold Award in the Wagyu category at the 2025 World Steak Challenge, one of the world’s most prestigious steak competitions.

To ensure transparency and trust in online transactions, WAGYU MARKET provides detailed insights into:

• Raising environments

• Feeding philosophies

• The producers’ values and stories

Rather than treating Wagyu as a generic commodity, the platform highlights who raised the cattle and how, enabling fair evaluation beyond price alone and fostering sustainable value creation.

Expanding Wagyu Culture Beyond “Luxury Steak”

Another major challenge in Wagyu exports is perception.

Outside Japan, Wagyu is often associated exclusively with premium steak cuts such as sirloin or tenderloin. Demand is therefore concentrated on only 20–30% of the animal, leaving other cuts underutilized.

WAGYU MARKET addresses this imbalance by promoting:

• Menu concepts utilizing secondary cuts

• Japanese cutting and processing techniques

• Diverse culinary applications across global food cultures

The platform also delivers multilingual content, including:

• Wagyu-related events and exhibition information

• Market trends and regulatory updates for international buyers

• Cooking methods and use cases by cut

Through education and storytelling, WAGYU MARKET aims to maximize whole-carcass value and elevate Wagyu culture worldwide.

From Price Competition to Story-Driven Value

As Japan’s domestic market contracts and Wagyu farmers continue to disappear, the solution is not price competition.

What is needed is a global marketplace where the philosophy of the producer, the character of the land, and the cultural depth of Wagyu are fully understood and appreciated.

Through WAGYU MARKET, NIKUJILLE seeks to establish a new, sustainable revenue model for Wagyu producers—one that preserves Wagyu as a world-class industry for generations to come.

Company Profile

Company Name: NIKUJILLE Co., Ltd.
CEO: James Arita
Founded: September 2021
Head Office: Tenjin 1-1-1, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka, Japan
Business Activities:

• Wagyu export (centered on Arita Wagyu)

• Wagyu media and branding

• International sales and logistics support

• Training and dispatch of professional Wagyu cutters
  Website: https://nikujille.com/