A brand pork making use of the hop resources of Tono, Iwate — local production for local consumption.
Tono Hop Ton is a Japanese brand pork (meigara-buta) from Sumita Town, Kesen District, Iwate Prefecture, managed by Iwate Seiryu Farm Co., Ltd. Breed / crossbreeding: Picua.
Tono Hop Ton is a brand pork produced with integrated in-house management by Iwate Seiryu Farm Co., Ltd. in Sumita Town, Kesen District, Iwate Prefecture. Its defining feature is the use of hop lees — a byproduct of craft beer brewed in Tono City, Iwate Prefecture, one of Japan’s foremost hop production areas — as part of the feed. The hop lees generated during the brewing process at Kamihei Sake Brewery, which has over 200 years of history in Tono City, are collected and dried with dedicated on-farm equipment and incorporated as part of a dedicated compound feed given to pigs during the finishing stage. This initiative is highly regarded as an advanced model for circulating regional resources, attracting nationwide interest as a uniquely Iwate brand pork embodying local production for local consumption.
The farm is blessed with clear water and clean air, with pigs raised in good health under a robust disease prevention system. In terms of meat quality, the polyphenols abundant in hops suppress oxidation, improving moisture retention and reducing drip during refrigeration — meaning the umami and freshness last longer. The meat color is a pale pink, pork off-odor is minimal, and the aftertaste is clean — making it versatile for everything from everyday meals to entertaining.
A full certification system is in place — trademark registration (September 2017), Farm HACCP (April 2019), and brand regulations (December 2017) — making it a trustworthy brand pork that consumers can choose with confidence. Distributed through supermarkets in Tono City and as furusato nozei (hometown tax donation) return gifts in Sumita Town, Tono City, and Kamaishi City, it is available in a wide range of forms including fresh cut sets and miso-marinated pork.
Basic Information
- Name
Tono Hop Ton - Production Area
Sumita Town, Kesen District, Iwate Prefecture - Management Body
Iwate Seiryu Farm Co., Ltd. - Breed / Crossbreeding
Picua - Meat Characteristics
Hop polyphenols suppress oxidation and improve water retention. Little drip and long-lasting umami; pale pink with little off-odor and a light flavor - Feed Characteristics
Tono-grown hops (byproduct of beer brewing at Kamihei Sake Brewery) dried and processed on the farm and given to finishing-stage pigs as a dedicated feed. Practicing local resource circulation - Shipping Age
Average 165 days - Annual Production
Approx. 36,000 head/year - Signature Dish
Miso-marinated pork - Certifications
Trademark registered: September 15, 2017 / Farm HACCP certified: April 16, 2019 / Brand regulations established: December 13, 2017 - Related URLs
Iwate Seiryu Farm Co., Ltd.
Nisshin Marubeni Feed Co., Ltd. (Tono Hop Ton Birth)
My CRAFT BEER (Tono Hop Ton Feature) - Source
Branded Pork Guidebook 2026, p.35
Iwate Seiryu Farm Co., Ltd. Official Site
Nisshin Marubeni Feed Co., Ltd.
My CRAFT BEER
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Last updated
6/19/2026
