Olive-fed Wagyu Beef

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Olive-fed Wagyu
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Olive-fed Wagyu

Over 1000 Years of Cattle Rasising

The bucolic island of Shodoshima in the tranquil Seto Inland Sea East of Osaka has been home to raising cattle for over 1300 years. Raising Wagyu cattle for meat production began in 1882. In the early 20th century, Shodoshima welcomed a second industry to its shores and now produces 99% of Japan's olives and award-winning olive oil. Although it may seem that beef and olives have little in common, a local cattle rancher named Masaki Ishii felt differently.

Happy, Healthy Cows

After years of observing the leftovers resulting from olive oil production going to waste, Ishii hit on the idea of feeding this nutritionally rich material to his herd. Initially, the animals wanted no part of the bitter substance but after many trials and errors, Ishii hit upon a complex, time-consuming process of drying and roasting the pressed olives. This caramelized the natural sugars resulting in a sweetness the finicky bovines were happy to eat. The effort that goes into this process fits perfectly with the Japanese ethos of mottainai , to waste nothing.

It soon became evident that the cattle fed this mixture were producing superior beef. Not only was the meat rich, buttery, and supremely marbled, the high oleic content makes both the animals and the resulting beef very healthy.

Award-Winning Beef

T"Olive beef" quickly began to garner attention and has earned the industry's highest grades. With just 1700 animals, compared to nearly 16,000 in Miyazaki, the herd size is relatively small. Olive-fed Wagyu is as highly prized as it is carefully controlled. The beef is popular among chefs and savvy diners throughout Japan and fast gaining notoriety abroad.

A Perfect Circle

As a result of Ishii's idea, Shodoshima has achieved a balanced cycle: olives are grown, pressed for oil and the leftovers are fed to local cattle whose manure is then used to fertilize the olives. Although the drying process is costly, it's also efficient and environmentally sound.

What is Wagyu?

Literally, “wa-gyu” means Japanese beef. To qualify for the name, it must come from one of four specific cattle breeds or a cross-breed within the four. The most famous wagyu is Kobe beef (Kobegyu in Japanese), but in recent years other regions such as Shodoshima have begun raising their own delicious beef creating a competitive market.

Beef in Japan is graded according to yield (A, B, C) and quality (5 - 1), with A3, A4 and A5 showing superior quality meat and intense fat marbling. Olive-fed Wagyu consistently ranks at this level, while the high oleic acid increases flavor and marbling.

Home of Olive-fed Wagyu

Kagawa Prefecture: The soul of Japan

As the MarineLiner hurtles across the Seto-Ohashi Bridge separating Shikoku Island from Honshu, it's clear you are entering an entirely different region of Japan. Views of floating islands and distant mountains fill the windows, a promise to visitors of what lies ahead.

Kagawa Prefecture constitutes the northern quadrant of Shikoku Island, the smallest of the four main islands that make up Japan. Rich in history and culture, the region includes Takamatsu City, a thriving burgh with much to offer visitors, as well as the nearby islands of Shodoshima, Naoshima, and Teshima, each with its own unique characteristics. Let's begin our virtual journey in the city and then work our way around the islands.

Modern-day Takamatsu has a number of attractions for visitors, starting with the elegant and inviting Ritsurin Garden. Covering hundreds of acres, the garden is home to hundreds of carefully cultivated plants and trees, ponds, and teahouses. A bit to the east lies the sprawling Shikoku Mura, an architectural village composed of dozens of authentic homes and buildings from around the region reconstructed to create a very natural-feeling environment. Nearby, the Isamu Noguchi museum and studio remain much as he left them, with a substantial collection of his work and his home while he lived in Japan. Japanese-American master furniture maker George Nakashima also spent time in Takamatsu and there is a lovely museum showcasing his life's work. Finally, the area is home to many temples and shrines, several of which are part of the 88 Temple Pilgrimage around the island.

shodoshima Island

What are the odds that an island shaped like a cow would have spent the last 1200 years as a center of cattle ranching? From the 8th century until the late 19th century, Shodoshima Island produced work animals; strong, sturdy oxen used in farming and sugar production In 1882, an enterprising rancher began fattening his cows and by the early 1900's, Shodoshima was producing "Sanuki Wagyu," beef. Jump ahead to 2010 when another forward-thinking rancher realized that olives, Shodoshima's other major product, could be instrumental in raising the quality and taste of his beef. He hit upon the idea of feeding the lees from pressing the olives to his cows, and after three years of trials, at last found a recipe his cows deigned to eat. The farmer's efforts have paid off as Olive-Fed Wagyu Beef is not only healthier than its counterparts thanks to the increased levels of oleic acid, it's also notably more delicious.

Beyond beef and olives, Shodoshima has much more to offer adventurous visitors. The island is home to 22 traditional soy sauce factories, several of which are still using massive wooden barrels and manpower to produce an array of rich, fragrant products. Yamaroku and Marukin are two that welcome visitors, and tours and tastings are recommended to fully grasp both the complexity and the range of flavors and applications possible. Wash down the umami with a sake tasting at the island's sake brewery, Morikuni, run by the 6th generation owner and turning out a fine selection. They also serve food at a friendly counter-bar, a perfect place for lunch or an afternoon snack.

To enjoy everything mentioned so far, a night at Mari Ryokan is highly recommended. With just seven rooms, no two alike, and a master chef on hand, guests are treated to an exquisite meal that includes sampling local soy sauces, the option of local sake, and beautifully designed surroundings. The manager speaks English so nothing gets lost in translation and guests are extremely well cared for.

As for local sights, the Senmaida Nakayama Terraced Rice Fields, the Kankakei Scenic Ropeway, the olive groves and olive history museum, and several lovely beaches are all worth a visit, and if you time your visit just right, you may get to see the local Noh theater in operation, continuing a centuries-old tradition. The island is larger than you might think, so consider renting a bike or car to get around, or use one of the island taxis.

Naoshima and Teshima

Known colloquially as the islands of contemporary art, Naoshima and Teshima are home to a number of world-class museums, installation arts, architecture, accommodations, and stunning views of the Seto Inland Sea. Created by the Benesse Holdings starting in 1992, it's grown to encompass most of Naoshima and Teshima islands and includes a luxury hotel, fine dining, a unique architecture project, and much more. Visitors arrive by ferry from one of several ports and spend from one to several days exploring. On Naoshima, all major structures were designed by Tadao Ando using concrete and spare, minimalist design. The Chichu Museum, synchronized with the surrounding nature, features the work of three artists: Claude Monet, James Turrell, and Walter de Maria, while the eponymous Lee Ufan Museum exclusively displays that artist's ouvre. Up at Benesse House Musuem visitors can view a vast collection representing artists from around the world with nothing older than 1980.

Aside from the museums, there is the Art House Project in which architects took local homes and renovated them in creative, unexpected ways and integrated them into the community. A truly organic experience, it transforms both locals and visitors in a ever-changing environment.

Over on Teshima, the Teshima Museum draws countless visitors to its unusual form. Resembling a drop of water, the concrete shell draws people in where they can experience both the space itself as well as the collection. The island is also home to the charming Shokudo 101, an old folk house restyled into a lively caf辿.

All three islands are connected via a ferry system that runs multiple boats daily from a number of local ports, making transport between any two destinations simple and direct. It's recommended to spend three-four days in Kagawa, enough time to thoroughly explore Takamatsu and the islands. Allow plenty of time for sampling the local cuisine: in addition to Olive-Fed Wagyu Beef, there's Sanuki Udon, all manner of fish and seafood, and a variety of locally brewed sake. All in all, there's nothing not to like about Kagawa Prefecture!

Lauren Scharf, NDC: Nippon Discovery Consulting