The pride of Gunma Prefecture — a brand pork raised on a wheat-blended feed, clean and refreshing in flavor.
Joshu Mugi Sodachi (Joshu Barley-Raised Pork) is raised at designated farms in Gunma Prefecture under careful, planned production. The defining feature of this brand pork is a dedicated fattening feed that completely excludes all animal-based feed, and is richly blended with barley — the most prominent grain. From approximately 120 days of age through to the day of shipment, this dedicated feed slowly and carefully builds up the pig’s body. The result is a suppression of the characteristic pork off-odor, with the low melting point of the fat producing a smooth, gentle texture that melts cleanly in the mouth. The lean is finely-grained with a pale meat color, with umami firmly concentrated; the fat has a clean, non-cloying sweetness — the two combining in an exquisitely balanced single cut of meat. From the moment it enters the mouth, an initial lightness; then, with each chew, a deep sweetness and rich umami seeping gradually through. This clean, refined flavor is the very reason ‘Joshu Mugi Sodachi’ continues to be chosen for many tables. The breed is a three-breed cross using Landrace female × Large Yorkshire male, or the reverse combination, as the sow, crossed with Duroc as the sire. Under brand standards consisting of quality certification criteria and trading conditions set by the managing body — Gunma Prefecture Meat Wholesale Market Co., Ltd. — promotional tools including seals are also utilized. A stable shipping system of approximately 8,800 head annually is in place, delivered as a brand pork from Gunma Prefecture to a wide range of tables. The never-tiring, clean flavor is easy to use in daily cooking, with its true value demonstrated in simple preparations that draw out the ingredient’s authentic umami.
Basic Information
- Name
Joshu Mugi Sodachi - Production Area
Designated farms in Gunma Prefecture - Management Body
Gunma Meat Wholesale Market Co., Ltd. - Breed / Crossbreeding
Female (Landrace × Large White) × Male: Duroc / Female (Large White × Landrace) × Male: Duroc - Meat Characteristics
No animal-based ingredients in feed. Wheat-rich diet suppresses off-odors; fine-grained pale lean meat with low-melting fat — light, clean texture with well-balanced umami and sweetness. - Feed Characteristics
Proprietary brand-specific feed given from around 120 days of age through shipping. Plant-based formula rich in grains and wheat; no animal protein. - Shipping Age
Approx. 180 days - Annual Production
8,800 head annually - Signature Dish
N/A - Certifications
Brand regulations in place (quality certification standards and trade conditions established) - Related URLs
Gunma Meat Wholesale Market Co., Ltd.
Gunma Meat Quality Council | Joshu Brand Pork - Source
Branded Pork Guidebook 2026, p.80
株式会社群馬県食肉卸売市場
群馬県食肉品質向上対策協議会｜上州銘柄豚
Last updated
6/21/2026