Question

4) Using the Internet, find out what has been the trend in Japanese consumptions of U.S. beef, both processed and unprocessed. Why do you think this trend has occurred?

Answer 1

Japan is considered a lesser meat consuming nation. Its level of consumption of meat is comparatively lower and it is much more dependent on fish and seafood. However, the consumption of meat is rising and that of the fish is stagnated. In the meat consumption also the pork remains the favorite of Japanese but the market for beef is rising fast.
Japan is a big market for US beef until 2003 when it has imported over a billion dollar worth of beef. The discovery of the disease, however, hit the US beef industry hard in the Japanese market. Japan put up strict terms which means the beef should not be of animals more than 12 months old which it recently raised to 30 months.
The current trend of US beef in Japanese is very positive and it is rising because of the different lifestyle of the population. McDonald's are quite famous in Japan and hamburger made from beef is preferred by many. A rise in barbecue style restaurants yakiniku also helped the consumption of beef as 70% of the beef in Japan is consumed in the restaurants.