Meat retail sales value in Japan 2016-2019

In 2019, the retail sales value of meat in Japan amounted to around 24.4 billion U.S. dollars. This represented a slight increase from about 23.2 billion dollars in 2016.
Meat rose in popularity as an ingredient in recent decades, but the domestic livestock industry was unable to cover the growing demand in the country, with around half of domestic shipments relying on imports.

Meat types in Japan

The most commonly available types of meat in the domestic retail market include pork, poultry, and beef, while other red meats such as horse are mainly served in food service establishments. However, while the consumption of beef rose slightly in recent years, pork and chicken meat remain consumers' favorites.

Meat processing

Fresh meat is commonly prepared in a variety of ways within Japanese cuisine, including deep-frying, simmering, braising, and slicing into thin pieces (sashimi). On the other hand, processed meat products include predominantly packaged or canned pre-made side dishes and cured meats. In particular, pork is in demand within the food processing industry, boosted by the popularity of bacon, sausages, and ham.