The pride of Yamagata — a rare brand pork born of an original refinement of the Jinhua pig, the source pig of Jinhua ham.
Hiraboku Kinkaton is a Japanese brand pork (meigara-buta) from Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture, managed by Hiraboku Co., Ltd. Breed / crossbreeding: Female (Landrace ♀ × Duroc ♂) × Male: Jinhua pig.
This brand pork was created by Hiraboku Co., Ltd., based in Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture, through the introduction of the Jinhua Pig from Jinhua District, Zhejiang Province, China in the 1980s, and the company’s own improvement and crossbreeding techniques. The 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 Hiraboku. Hiraboku 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 the Jinhua Pig is honed over time.
The meat has a low fat melting point, delivering a rich, moist melt-in-the-mouth texture. The meat is finely grained and rich in inosinic acid and oleic acid, and 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 Prefecture - Management Body
Hiraboku Co., Ltd. - Breed / Crossbreeding
Female (Landrace ♀ × Duroc ♂) × Male: Jinhua pig - Meat Characteristics
Low fat melting point with a moist melt-in-the-mouth quality; fine-grained meat rich in inosinic and oleic acids. Delicate flavor with harmonized sweetness and umami - Feed Characteristics
Plant-based designated compound feed with domestic feed rice at 15% in early fattening and 30% in late fattening. No animal protein such as meat-and-bone meal - Shipping Age
Approx. 210 days - Annual Production
Approx. 23,000 head/year - Signature Dish
Shabu-shabu / Yakiniku - Certifications
Brand regulations established: March 2002 - Related URLs
Hiraboku Official Site
Hiraboku Kinkaton | Brand Pork | Hiraboku Official Site
Hiraboku Kinkaton | Hiraboku Online Shop - Source
Branded Pork Guidebook 2026, p.50
Hiraboku Official Site
Hiraboku Kinkaton | Brand Pork | Hiraboku Official Site
Hiraboku Online Shop
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Last updated
6/21/2026
