Nurtured by barley and Vitamin E — a brilliantly white fat and a tender lean meat that represent Kanagawa’s brand pork at its finest.
Kanagawa Prefecture has long been an area with thriving agriculture and livestock. Among these, ‘Yamayuri Pork’ has been long loved as a brand pork representing the prefecture. The name derives from the brilliantly white, beautiful fat — like the yamayuri (golden-banded lily), Kanagawa’s prefectural flower — certified as a ‘Kanagawa Brand’ in 1993 and further selected for the ‘Kanagawa Famous Products 100 Selection’ in FY2019 — a brand pork representing Kanagawa Prefecture. The defining feature of Yamayuri Pork is the balance between pure white fat with no extraneous flavors, and the soft, juicy lean. By giving dedicated feeds — ‘Yamayuri B’ for piglets and ‘Yamayuri C’ for fattening pigs — with a generous barley blend, the fat is finished clean and white. Furthermore, by adding abundant Vitamin E, fat oxidation is suppressed — realizing a rich, long-lasting, high-quality meat quality. Rearing is conducted only at designated farms managed by JA Zenno Kanagawa Prefecture Headquarters, with strict standards in hygiene and rearing management. Shipping is at 180–190 days of age and 115 kg body weight as the standard — raising slowly over time concentrates the sweetness and umami of the fat. The outstanding track record of 11 Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award wins speaks to the high quality. The simpler the preparation, the more the quality of the ingredient stands out. In tonkatsu, the juicy umami overflowing from within the coating is outstanding. In shabu-shabu and ginger pork stir-fry, the exquisite combination of white, clean fat and soft lean can be enjoyed. Please do taste Yamayuri Pork at a local restaurant on your next visit to Kanagawa.
Basic Information
- Name
Yamayuri Pork - Production Area
Certified farms within Kanagawa Prefecture - Management Body
JA Zen-Noh Kanagawa - Breed / Crossbreeding
Three-breed cross: Female (Landrace x Large White) x Male Duroc - Meat Characteristics
Luminously white fat with subtle sweetness and a non-greasy melt; vivid pink lean with extended freshness from vitamin E - Feed Characteristics
Dedicated Yamayuri B (piglet) and Yamayuri C (fattening) compound feeds; high barley content for fat whiteness and sweetness; vitamin E for color preservation and freshness - Shipping Age
Not specified - Annual Production
Approx. 11,000 head annually - Signature Dish
N/A - Certifications
Kanagawa Brand certified: 1993
Selected for ‘Kanagawa’s Top 100 Local Products’: 2019
Trademark registration: January 17, 1992
Brand regulations established: April 1, 1990 (revised April 22, 2022) - Related URLs
JA Zen-Noh Kanagawa – Yamayuri Pork
Kanagawa Pig Farmers Assoc. – Yamayuri Pork
Kanagawa Tourism NOW – Yamayuri Pork Feature - Source
Branded Pork Guidebook 2026, p.111
JA Zen-Noh Kanagawa (Official Site)
Kanagawa Prefecture Pig Farmers Association (Official Site)
Kanagawa Tourism NOW
JA Zen-Noh Kanagawa – Yamayuri Pork
Last updated
6/21/2026