Olive Gyu and Olive Hamachi: Kagawa's Olive-Fed Beef and Yellowtail

Shodoshima, in Kagawa, was the site of Japan's first successful olive cultivation, starting in 1908, and the industry has since branched into feed as well as oil. Leftover olive leaves and pomace from oil pressing are mixed into feed given to cattle and farmed yellowtail during their final fattening stage, under the branded names Olive Gyu (beef) and Olive Hamachi (yellowtail). Producers say the olive-based feed affects the fat's texture and flavor, giving a slightly different, often milder, richness compared to conventionally fed animals.

Both products show up on menus specifically labeled as Olive Gyu or Olive Hamachi, and they're priced at a premium over standard beef or yellowtail, reflecting the smaller-scale, branded production. It's a genuinely Kagawa-specific product rather than a generic regional claim, so it's worth ordering by name if you see it listed. Because it's a branded program run by specific producers, exact availability and quality can vary, so treat any given menu listing as something to judge on the day rather than guaranteed.