The pride of Yamagata — a rare brand pork born of an original refinement of the prized Jinhua pig, the source of China’s legendary Jinhua ham.
This brand pork was created by Hirata Bokujo Co., Ltd., based in Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture, through the introduction of Jinhua Pig from Jinhua District, Zhejiang Province, China in the 1980s, and the company’s own improvement and crossbreeding techniques. Jinhua Pig is a rare breed globally known as the source pig for Jinhua Ham — once described as ‘one of the world’s three great hams’ — and within Japan, it is raised at only two locations including Hirata Bokujo. Hirata Bokujo has combined the breed’s outstanding characteristics with domestic breeds to realize a stable production and supply system while preserving the delicate umami. The feed incorporates domestically-grown feed rice at a high ratio of 15% in the early fattening stage and 30% in the late stage, combined with non-GMO-segregated corn and soybean meal and other plant-based designated compound feed. The complete exclusion of meat and bone meal and other animal proteins, and the commitment to an environment in which pigs can grow up in good health, is another major characteristic of this brand pork. Raised slowly over approximately 210 days — far longer than standard pigs — in open-type barns with access to natural light and air, the unique quality of Jinhua Pig is honed over time. The meat has a low fat melting point, delivering a rich, melt-in-your-mouth texture as the fat dissolves warmly on the palate. Finely-grained, rich in inosinic acid and oleic acid, the exquisite harmony of sweetness and umami creates a flavor that, once tasted, is impossible to forget. In simple preparations like shabu-shabu and yakiniku, the elegant character of this pork is brought to its fullest expression.
Basic Information
- Name
Hiraboku Kinkaton - Production Area
Sakata City, Yamagata - Management Body
Hiraboku Co., Ltd. - Breed / Crossbreeding
Female (Landrace × Duroc) × Male Jinhua pig - Meat Characteristics
Low-melting-point fat with a silky, melt-in-the-mouth quality. Inosinic acid and oleic acid deliver harmonious savory depth and delicate sweetness in the lean. - Feed Characteristics
Plant-based designated feed: 15% domestically grown feed rice in early fattening, 30% in late fattening. No animal-derived protein (bone meal etc.) used. - Shipping Age
Approx. 210 days - Annual Production
Approx. 23,000 head/year - Signature Dish
Shabu-shabu / Yakiniku - Certifications
Brand specification established: March 2002 - Related URLs
Hiraboku Official Site
Hiraboku Kinkaton | Brand Pork | Hiraboku Official Site
Hiraboku Kinkaton | Hiraboku Online Shop - Source
Brand Pork Guidebook 2026 p.50
Hiraboku Official Site
Hiraboku Online Shop
Last updated
June 21, 2026