A ceremony was held Wednesday at a meat processing center in Tamamura, Gunma Prefecture, to mark the inaugural shipment. The beef will be shipped by air from Narita airport Monday.

About 180 kg of sirloin, tenderloin and other cuts from "wagyu" cattle raised in Gunma will be sent in the first shipment.

JA Zen-Noh Meat Foods Co. said it plans to export about 400 kg a month to Canada. It sees the country as a promising market behind the United States and Hong Kong.

The initial shipment is intended to gauge consumer reaction to the choice Japanese product, the company said.

At the ceremony, Isao Okugi, chairman of JA Gunma Prefectural Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, said he thinks the export "will contribute to expand Japanese beef's presence in the world and help producers."

Source: The Japan Times