Iwate Pioneer Ranch of Ogawa Group Wins Excellence Award at 27th JA Beef Competition

Ogawa Chikusan Shokuhin Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; President: Teruhiro Ogawa), a wagyu and domestic beef and pork wholesaler founded in 1938, announces that the entry cattle (Iwate Beef ) from its group company Iwate Pioneer Ranch Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Shigeo Hanaoka), which engages in wagyu production and wholesale of wagyu and domestic beef to retail and restaurant businesses, won the Excellence Award in the female wagyu category at the 27th JA Beef Competition (Zenno Nikugyu Edaniku Kyoreikai), Japan's largest beef evaluation contest, held at Tokyo Meat Market on July 4, 2025 (Friday).

Award-winning cattle

Iwate Pioneer Ranch Co., Ltd. produces wagyu at its own ranches in Iwate and Miyagi prefectures, and also procures high-quality wagyu and domestic beef from Tokyo Meat Market through the discerning eyes of craftsmen cultivated over many years, selling to customers centered on retail and restaurant businesses. Since joining the Ogawa Group in 2011, the company has continued business expansion by maximizing group synergies that integrate production, procurement, processing, sales, and distribution.

The 27th JA Beef Carcass Competition featured entries of 340 head from 18 prefectures: 212 castrated wagyu, 100 female wagyu, and 28 crossbred cattle. The entry cattle from Iwate Pioneer Ranch (Iwate Beef ) that won the Excellence Award in the female wagyu category had an A5 grade, BMS (Beef Marbling Standard: a standard representing the degree of marbling in wagyu) of No.12, the highest level, and a carcass weight of 513kg. It was successfully bid by Ogawa Chikusan Kogyo Co., Ltd. at 4,016 yen per kilogram at the auction on the same day.

Regarding this award, Shigeo Hanaoka, President of Iwate Pioneer Ranch Co., Ltd., stated:

"We are extremely pleased and proud that our Iwate Beef (Maezawa Beef) has won the Excellence Award in the female wagyu category at the '27th JA Beef Competition.' I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all those who support us daily, and to each and every employee who works hard on the front lines.

In recent years, as the aging of the livestock industry has been highlighted, our Iwate Pioneer Ranch has focused on creating a workplace where young people in their 20s and 30s can work actively by establishing an environment and treatment that makes them want to work.

Furthermore, to protect ranches that are valuable assets to the local community, we have been working to maintain and develop the regional livestock infrastructure by taking over ranches that were operated by elderly couples but became difficult to continue due to health issues.

We will continue to work as one team to deliver even more delicious beef to consumers and to make the livestock industry an attractive career choice for young generations. We ask for your continued support."

About Ogawa Chikusan Shokuhin Co., Ltd.

Founded in 1938 as Ogawa Shoten. The company develops a wide range of businesses mainly in meat supplier business, including intermediate distribution, direct restaurant operations, meat retail, and production business. In recent years, the company has been promoting the expansion of comprehensive food-related businesses, including overseas export business.

Company Name: Ogawa Chikusan Shokuhin Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: 2-4-18 Futaba, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-0043

Representative: President Teruhiro Ogawa

Capital: 80 million yen

Number of Employees: 96 (as of April 11, 2025)

Business Content: ①Beef and pork processing, sales, and wholesale business ②Food service business ③Restaurant business

About Iwate Pioneer Ranch Co., Ltd.

The company produces wagyu at its own ranches in Iwate and Miyagi prefectures, and also procures high-quality wagyu and domestic beef from Tokyo Meat Market through the discerning eyes of craftsmen cultivated over many years, selling to customers centered on restaurants. Since joining the Ogawa Group in 2011, the company has continued business expansion by maximizing group synergies that integrate production, procurement, processing, sales, and distribution. We will continue to prioritize customer satisfaction and smiles, delivering happiness to dining tables with unchanging quality.

Company Name: Iwate Pioneer Ranch Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: 5F Shinagawa Canal Building, 2-12-33 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0075

Representative: President Shigeo Hanaoka

Capital: 20 million yen

Number of Employees: 12

Business Content: Wagyu production, wholesale of wagyu and domestic beef to retail and restaurant businesses

Reference photos

Award-winning cattle with Excellence Award medallion

Right half of the award-winning cattle

Rump meat of the award-winning cattle

Cross-section of the award-winning cattle