Nurtured by the pure water and earth of snowy northern Shinshu — a rare brand pork so extraordinary it is called a phantom.
Kita Shinshu Miyuki Pork, raised around Iiyama City in the mountains and clear waters of northern Nagano Prefecture — North Shinshu — is a brand pork long beloved locally and earning high evaluation at restaurants in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Production was fully launched in 1992, with trademark registration in 1997. From the outstanding meat quality produced by strict production management, it is also called the ‘phantom pork’ — a rare specialty. The greatest appeal of Kita Shinshu Miyuki Pork is the coexistence of firm, taut texture with a moist, soft eating experience. The fat is non-cloying, with an elegant sweetness and richness spreading in the mouth — producing a never-tiring deliciousness. This high meat quality is the result of carefully selected compound feed and the devoted rearing management of pig farmers. A unified designated compound feed combining corn, barley, cassava, and milo is given consistently, raised slowly to 180 days of age — firmly drawing out the authentic umami of the ingredient. The breed is a three-breed cross — Landrace × Large Yorkshire sow crossed with Duroc. With JA Nagano Agricultural Cooperative as the managing body, production in a unified method based on rearing management manuals means minimal quality variation — reliable and easy to eat. Representative eating methods range across tonkatsu, ginger pork stir-fry, hamburger steak, and hot pot dishes. Preparations that draw out the sweetness and softness of the meat are preferred — a popular menu item at restaurants throughout local Iiyama City. Also attracting nationwide attention as a furusato nozei return gift — the rarity of being hard to obtain outside the area adds further appeal.
Basic Information
- Name
Kita Shinshu Miyuki Pork - Production Area
Designated farms around Iiyama City, northern Nagano - Management Body
JA Nagano - Breed / Crossbreeding
Three-breed cross (LWD): Female (Landrace x Large White) x Male Duroc / or Landrace x Large White - Meat Characteristics
Rich lean umami with a clean, satisfying finish; well-balanced fat from a carefully optimized multi-grain compound feed - Feed Characteristics
Designated compound feed combining corn, barley, cassava, and milo; formulated to maximize the pig’s natural umami - Shipping Age
Approx. 180 days - Annual Production
Approx. 1,400 head annually (rare; distribution outside the city is limited) - Signature Dish
N/A - Certifications
Trademark registration: July 11, 1997
Brand regulations established: April 1, 1992
Farm HACCP: not applicable
JGAP: not applicable - Related URLs
JA Nagano (Official Site)
Iiyama Tourism Bureau – Miyuki Pork Feature - Source
Branded Pork Guidebook 2026, p.115
JA Nagano (Official Site)
Iiyama Tourism Bureau
Nagano Prefecture Agricultural Products Tasting Guide
JA Nagano (Official Site)
Last updated
6/21/2026