The pride of Ibaraki Prefecture — a brand pork that carries a name with 600 years of history.
Sanemon is a farm-direct brand pork produced by Yamanishi Farm in Bando City, Ibaraki Prefecture. This brand name has been handed down across this land and family for more than 600 years — named as proof that production is undertaken with the utmost pride. Under the belief inherited from the producer’s predecessor — ‘the deliciousness of meat is determined by the fat, and quality feed creates the fat’ — this is a pork raised with tastiness given absolute priority over cost or production efficiency. Rearing incorporates the latest liquid feeding system. A proprietary designated compound feed centered on grains is mixed with water and given to the pigs, raising nutritional absorption rates and creating a well-toned physical form. Through fine ingenuity across the entire rearing environment beyond just the feeding method, high-quality pork is produced stably. The finished meat of Sanemon is characterized by sweet fat and umami-packed lean. The fat is so clean-finishing and smooth-melting it has been described as ‘drinkable fat’ — and the minimal characteristic pork off-odor is one of the greatest features. Even when cooled, the softness persists, and the light, non-heavy finish after eating makes it a welcome presence on daily tables. In shabu-shabu and hot pot, surprisingly little scum rises — the authentic umami of the ingredient can be enjoyed simply and directly. In 2017, Sanemon won the Chairman’s Prize at the Tokyo Meat Market Pig Carcass Competition, with further top placements in 2018 and 2024. Please do try this Ibaraki bounty — raised with care at a farm of 400 sows and approximately 5,000 head total — at your table.
Basic Information
- Name
Sanemon - Production Area
Bando City, Ibaraki Prefecture - Management Body
Yamanishi Farm Co., Ltd. - Breed / Crossbreeding
Female (Landrace × Large White) × Male: Duroc (three-way cross) - Meat Characteristics
Sweet fat and firm lean meat. The fat is described as light and ‘drinkable,’ with very little pork-specific odor. The flavor holds even when cold. - Feed Characteristics
Grain-centered proprietary blend fed via a liquid feeding system, which mixes feed with water to improve digestibility and growth. - Shipping Age
180 days - Annual Production
8,000 heads/year - Signature Dish
Shabu-shabu, hot pot, tonkatsu - Certifications
Trademark registered: April 6, 2021 - Related URLs
Yamanishi Farm | Farm-Direct Brand ‘Sanemon’ and Craft Pork
Ibaraki Yamanishi Farm Sanemon – Katsukura Tonkatsu
Yamanishi Farm [Sanemon] | Pocket Marche
Yamanishi Farm | Tabechoku
Yamanishi Farm Meat Guide – Savoring ‘Drinkable Fat’ - Source
Branded Pork Guidebook 2026, p.58
Yamanishi Farm
Katsukura
Pocket Marche
Tabechoku
Yamanishi Farm Meat Guide
Last updated
June 21, 2026