A brand pork that makes full use of Tono, Iwate’s celebrated hop resources — local ingredients, raised local, eaten local.
Tono Hop Ton is a brand pork produced with integrated in-house management by Iwate Seiryu Farm Co., Ltd. in Sumita Town, Kesen District, Iwate Prefecture. Its defining feature is the use of hop lees — a byproduct of craft beer brewed in Tono City, Iwate Prefecture, one of Japan’s foremost hop production areas — as part of the feed. The hop lees generated during the brewing process at Kamihei Sake Brewery, which has over 200 years of history in Tono City, are collected and dried at dedicated on-farm equipment and incorporated as part of a dedicated compound feed given to pigs during the finishing stage. This initiative is highly regarded as an advanced model for circulating regional resources, attracting nationwide interest as a uniquely Iwate brand pork embodying local production for local consumption. The farm is blessed with clear water and clean air, with pigs raised in good health under a robust disease prevention system. In terms of meat quality, the polyphenols abundant in hops suppress oxidation, improving moisture retention and reducing drip during refrigeration — meaning the umami and freshness last longer. The meat color is a pale pink, pork off-odor is minimal, and the aftertaste is clean — making it versatile for everything from everyday meals to entertaining. A full certification system is in place — trademark registration (September 2017), Farm HACCP (April 2019), and brand standards (December 2017) — making it a trustworthy brand pork that consumers can choose with confidence. Distributed through supermarkets in Tono City and as furusato nozei (hometown tax donation) return gifts in Sumita Town, Tono City, and Kamaishi City, it is available in a wide range of forms including fresh cut sets and miso-marinated pork.
Basic Information
- Name
Tono Hop Ton - Production Area
Sumita Town, Kesen District, Iwate - Management Body
Iwate Seiryu Farm Co., Ltd. - Breed / Crossbreeding
Picua - Meat Characteristics
Hop polyphenols inhibit oxidation, increasing water retention and reducing drip. Delicate pastel pink color, minimal off-odor, clean light flavor. - Feed Characteristics
Tono-sourced hop lees (from Kami-hei Brewery’s beer brewing) collected, dried, and processed on-farm; incorporated into the finishing feed as part of local circular resource use. - Shipping Age
Average 165 days - Annual Production
Approx. 36,000 head/year - Signature Dish
Not specified - Certifications
Trademark registered: September 15, 2017
Farm HACCP acquired: April 16, 2019
Brand specifications established: December 13, 2017 - Related URLs
Iwate Seiryu Farm Co., Ltd.
Nisshin Marubeni Feed Co., Ltd. (Tono Hop Ton Birth)
My CRAFT BEER (Tono Hop Ton Feature) - Source
Brand Pork Guidebook 2026 p.35
Iwate Seiryu Farm Co., Ltd. Official Site
Nisshin Marubeni Feed Co., Ltd.
My CRAFT BEER
Last updated
June 19, 2026