Japan Facts ; Cows and Beef

One of the irrefutable Japan Facts is that the Japanese love beef and as such their cows. I was in the middle of a lesson the other day and the student and I were talking about difficulties in a restaurant. Actually, we were working on how to complain in the event that there's a problem that can't be (or isn't) immediately resolved. Well, one thing led to another and we eventually strayed off topic to discuss his taste for beef. He absolutely loves yaki-niku (grilled beef) and goes out to eat it at least once a week. Further along in the discussion he made a reference to Kobe beef, Matsuzaka beef, and the restaurants in Ginza, Tokyo. It was at this point that he exclaimed that he could never eat at some of those restaurants because they were far too expensive. I'd heard of the beef getting up to quite lofty prices in Japan and had always been keen to find out why they cost so much. This was the perfect opportunity.

When posed with the question as to why the beef is so expensive and delicious - well worth the cost - he told me such a wild tale that I didn't know how to react at first. According to him, the quality and success of Japanese beef all came down to the treatment of the cows. And boy did they ever get treated well! Royally even, if such a thing is possible for cows. He claimed that it was a well known fact that the cows in Japan, particularly the ones bearing the names of Kobe and Matsuzaka, are afforded a lifestyle that a lot of us might react to with more than a little surprise. These majestic cows are literally pampered like royal pets. They are fed nothing but the best, which is a secret combination of high quality wheat, soybean byproducts, hay and corn. In order to evenly distribute the fat in their bodies (and get a tastier, juicier beef) they are regularly massaged and brushed down. They have very wide living spaces like private bedrooms instead of stalls and beer seems to be their beverage of choice! At the mention of beer, I just had to interrupt to make sure that I'd heard correctly. Yes, definitely beer.

A few days later, I'd completely forgotten about the story about cows, massages, and beers. I tend to get distracted easily and hearing a story once late at night doesn't always make the best impression on me. However, I was chatting with another student about cooking and trading recipes when we suddenly strayed off into the area of farms and cows. She looked me straight in the eye and asked me if I'd ever heard of Matsuzaka beef. You see, we'd been talking about overindulging and gaining weight and all that and she brought up beef as another reason why she couldn't go on a diet. And then she was reinforcing the information that I'd heard a few nights ago about the massage-loving and beer drinking cows. She's not the type of person to exaggerate or make up stories so I listened carefully, tying in the first story with hers. They were nearly identical. Nearly... Only one part of her story was new that really made me laugh - the cows in her story listened to Mozart and other classical musicians to relax them. Being as honest as she is, she added that this part of the story wasn't entirely verified and urged me to double check on my own.

Not even thirty seconds after the student had left and I was chasing down a co-worker to share the incredulous story with her. Better to do it before I forget anyhow. She didn't seem at all surprised to hear about the cows because she is Japanese after all. But when I asked her if the cows really drink beer, she kind of gave me a funny look and corrected me by saying that they bathe in it. Bathe in it?! As in get into a big tub filled with beer? For what purpose? Well, the beer is supposed to be good for the skin...? That's what she said but knowing how she likes to kid around, I knew that I'd better look it up for myself to see which parts of this cow story were true and which were just strange rumors or tall tales.

So, how much of the three stories that I heard was true? I chased down a variety of sources trying to disprove the beer portion of the story, as well as the classical music variation. The massage bit came out as being a solid truth so I let that slide for the moment. However, in the end, I came to the conclusion that my three sources for the spoiled Japanese cow tale had all been telling the truth!

About the massages... the cows regularly receive quite lengthy and thorough massages with a straw brush (as being the most popular method). There are at least two major reasons for why the cow is treated to a free massage. Probably the most important reason is because the massage is supposed to promote the even distribution of fat throughout the cow's body. This leads to the famous marbled appearance of the beef that most people who have tried it are familiar with. Aside from the fat, the meat itself comes out extremely tender and rich, leading to a juicy steak that practically melts in your mouth once it's been grilled to perfection. Just thinking about it is making me hungry. Another reason for the massage is that it relaxes the cow and allows it to bask in a tranquil lifestyle. This makes the cow grow accustomed to being pampered and therefore enjoy being lazy. The less the cows move about and exercise, the fatter they become, which lends to the texture of the beef as well. A bigger cow also results in a lot more steaks to go around.

I never imagined that I'd ever see an intoxicated cow, but now I just might get the chance. Why? Because it is entirely true that the specially raised cows in Japan guzzle beer. They aren't served beer as a means of being social either. It's intended to stimulate appetite and some people even believe that it keeps the cows cheerful and mellow. Beer may not seem like the beverage of choice for a cow but a lot of them actually develop a taste for it and can't seem to get enough. While a human with a beer gut isn't the most visually appealing image one can draw to mind, a chunky cow that's a bit heavy around the middle might conjure up a different picture. Once again, this will eventually lead to fat. That fat is legendary because of its texture and color. Some people have compared the pure white fat to a freshly cut coconut. Imagine how white the fat has got to be to be compared to a coconut! Now we have a contented lazy cow that enjoys gulping down some beer and basking in the attention that it is provided with.

What more could the cow ask for? How about a shower... in shochu?! What is shochu? It's of a higher alcoholic percentage than wine or sake and is made with distilled barley, sweet potatoes, or rice. The cows are given shochu showers before grooming time on some farms because it is said to be good for their skin and circulation. Or at least that was one of the reasons I came up with while I pondered over the benefits of taking a shower in alcohol. It sure does sound like a very mind-boggling idea. All this talk about cows and alcohol is producing a very silly image of an intoxicated cow wobbling through the barn house in my head. I wonder what the alcoholic tolerance is for cows anyway...? We all know how humans act when they've had one too many but how would it change the behavior of an animal as big as a cow? Perhaps the beer and shochu make the cow more amicable around its caretakers. It must be quite a comical sight and I must admit that I find myself curiously looking up pictures of Japanese cows to see if I can find any amusing ones.

As for the music, the cows have been said to enjoy listening to classical music like Mozart because it relaxes them. Whether or not this is the music putting them into a dreamlike state, or if it's actually the influence of the alcohol, it's really hard to tell. Regardless of the source of this peaceful bliss-like environment the cows find themselves in, it's hard to deny that it is just that. Aside from the skeptical rumor that they are also treated to heated baths (this rumor proved to be too difficult to verify one way or the other), it's obvious that these happy cows couldn't be leading a better life.

While the cows have their own little paradise going on, the popularity of yaki-niku in Japan is a unique culture in and of itself. The quality of the beef that is used for the yaki-niku is savored in many restaurants that allow you to grill your own meat. The atmosphere inside of such a restaurant is very lively and filled with the aroma of rich beef simmering on a charcoal grill. Eating at a yaki-niku restaurant is quite different from going into a regular beef or burger joint and having the food come to you already cooked. By having control over the grill, you're able to cook whatever cut of meat you like to perfection. You'll probably want to share this experience with your friends and family because the more people that are present, the more exciting a time you'll have. Usually, yaki-niku restaurants are very spacious and vary in design and layout. A lot of them have the old fashioned sunken table where there is actually a space dug out in the floor for you to comfortably stretch your legs in. Other restaurants have the traditional low tables on a flat floor, sometimes tatami, so you may have to grow accustomed to kneeling for a good majority of the night.

The meat that is used for yaki-niku comes from different cow ranches in Japan and is graded according to cut and quality. Usually, the more evenly distributed that fat is, the juicier the meat will be... and the more expensive. But if you really do enjoy your beef, then it may well be worth it to check out one of these restaurants on your birthday or anniversary. There's nothing like a sizzling slab of steak to perk up your spirits and have you toasting away to the occasion and the dinner. The fattier the cut, the hungrier the flames. If you find that your beef is seconds away from disappearing in a scorching blaze, don't hesitate in calling the waiter or waitress over. They're well prepared for such an occurrence and will have your grill back under control with a few cubes of ice in no time. Kobe is remarkably well revered for its beef restaurants, both yaki-niku and regular steak, and is a hot spot for beef connoisseurs worldwide. So, if you're already in Japan or planning a vacation in the area, be sure to check out Kobe for some truly divine beef! Tokyo is also great for Matsuzaka beef and allows for a good variance from the Kobe styled beef. Opinions for both the Matsuzaka beef and Kobe beef are well divided so you may have some difficulty selecting your favorite of the two. And for anyone who is really interested in the food arts, there are famous restaurants throughout Japan that turn that beef into amazingly delicious, colorful and flavorful masterpieces. No matter what your preference in beef, it's pretty much guaranteed that you'll find several dishes to your liking in Japan!

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