Meat market in Japan - statistic & facts
In the traditional Japanese diet, meat used to be neglected as an ingredient due to the archipelago’s easy access to deep-sea fishery. Influenced by Buddhist vegetarianism and cultural taboos, meat was officially banned until the latter half of the 19th century, and fish was consumed as the main protein. However, a change in dietary preferences can be observed in the growing consumption volume of meat in recent years. Many iconic fish-based dishes in Japanese cuisine are nowadays available as a meat-based version, like meat sushi, sashimi, and teriyaki dishes, whereas the term “Japanese cattle” (wagyu) evokes the image of high-quality meat in the global market.
