Nurtured over three generations at the foot of Mount Oritsume in Iwate — a brand pork celebrated for its beautifully melt-in-the-mouth fat.
Oritsume Sangen Ton ‘Sasuke’ is a three-breed cross brand pork produced at the foot of Mount Oritsume in Ninohe City, in the northern part of Iwate Prefecture. Its name was given in honor of the founder, Sasuke Kuji, who began pig farming shortly after the end of World War II. The second generation devoted their passion to breed improvement, and after more than 20 years of trial and error with various crosses, discovered the optimal combination. The current third-generation president established the processing and direct-sales system, bringing the brand to its current form. The most distinctive feature is the low melting point of the fat — melting 2–3°C lower than standard pork, it spreads smoothly the moment it enters the mouth, uniting with the umami-rich lean in a gentle sweetness. Even when cooled, the fat resists solidifying, allowing the authentic pork flavor to be enjoyed even after time has passed. With almost no gamey off-odor, the clean, approachable meat quality is well received even by those who don’t normally enjoy pork. In terms of rearing, pigs are raised in a clean, 24-hour temperature- and humidity-controlled barn with stress kept to an absolute minimum, and all-in, all-out management is used for thorough hygiene control. Vaccine and antibiotic use is also kept to an absolute minimum, with management guided by a policy of drawing on the animals’ natural strength. A vertically integrated production system — handling everything in-house from piglet production through fattening, processing, and sales — enables fine-grained quality tracking for every individual animal. Traceability covering even offal is also in place, with an unwavering commitment to delivering safe and reliable meat. The umami of this pork is beautifully drawn out in shabu-shabu and miso-marinated loin — allowing the appeal of the beautifully melting fat to be savored to the full.
Basic Information
- Name
Oritsume Sangen Ton “Sasuke” - Production Area
Ninohe City (fattening at Karumai Town, own farm), Iwate - Management Body
Kuji Farm Co., Ltd. - Breed / Crossbreeding
Female (Landrace × Large White) × Male Duroc - Meat Characteristics
Fat melting point 2–3°C lower than standard pork — dissolves instantly on the palate, merging gentle sweetness with umami-rich lean. Stays soft even when cooled. Virtually no gamey odor. - Feed Characteristics
Compound feed as the base, with proprietary designated compound feed in the finishing phase. Minimal drug use; a policy of drawing out the ingredient’s natural quality. - Shipping Age
Approx. 180 days - Annual Production
Approx. 9,500 head/year - Signature Dish
Shabu-shabu / Miso-marinated loin - Certifications
Trademark registered
Full traceability including offal - Related URLs
Kuji Farm Official Site
Kuji Farm Official Online Shop - Source
Brand Pork Guidebook 2026 p.33
Kuji Farm Official Site
Kuji Farm Official Online Shop
Last updated
June 19, 2026