Raised in the great land of Saga — a premium brand pork of vivid, beautiful cherry-blossom pink that speaks of quality before the first bite.
Hizen Sakura Pork is a brand pork with history and achievements — having worked on branding since 1993 by Saga Prefecture’s JA Group. The vivid cherry-pink meat quality that gave rise to the name is born only from devoted rearing management and carefully selected feed. The breed is a three-breed cross — Landrace-based combined with Large Yorkshire and Duroc — stably producing high-quality pork while drawing out the advantages of each breed. In rearing, a dedicated brand feed suited to the growth stage is given — in the finishing period, seaweed powder richly containing minerals and various vitamins is added, promoting the pig’s immune function and healthy growth. Also, by raising slowly over a longer period than standard in barns with wide space secured per head — the balance of fat quality and meat quality is very good. As a result, approximately 70% is shipped as high-quality ‘Premium’ versus the national average of approximately 50% — an astonishing quality level is realized. The characteristic pork off-odor is minimal — a finely-grained, soft texture and melting sweetness of the fat spreads throughout the mouth. With clearly designated farms carefully raising the pigs — traceability is also a major appeal. In shabu-shabu, the sweetness of the fat can be fully felt — the authentic umami of the ingredient can be directly enjoyed. JA Saga consistently handles production and distribution under strict quality management — delivering safe, reliable deliciousness to consumers nationwide.
Basic Information
- Name
Hizen Sakura Pork - Production Area
Designated farms in Saga Prefecture (JA Saga member farms) - Management Body
JA Saga (Saga Prefectural Agricultural Cooperative) - Breed / Crossbreeding
Female (Landrace × Large White) × Duroc - Meat Characteristics
Minimal of pork’s typical off-odor — a finely-grained, tender texture and a sweetly dissolving fat. The meat color is a vivid, beautiful sakura pink. - Feed Characteristics
JA Saga dedicated brand feed adjusted to each growth stage. Seaweed powder (rich in minerals and vitamins) added in the finishing period to strengthen immune function. - Shipping Age
190 days - Annual Production
Approx. 35,000 head annually - Signature Dish
Shabu-shabu - Certifications
Trademark registration: August 21, 1998
Brand regulations established: April 1, 2009
Farm HACCP certified
JGAP certified - Related URLs
JA Saga (Saga Prefectural Agricultural Cooperative)
Hizen Sakura Pork — JA Saga
Hizen Sakura Pork: Raising with Gratitude — SAGAPIN - Source
Branded Pork Guidebook 2026, p.175
JA Saga (Saga Prefectural Agricultural Cooperative)
Hizen Sakura Pork — JA Saga
Hizen Sakura Pork: Raising with Gratitude — SAGAPIN
Last updated
6/21/2026