In the west, we cringe at the thought of eating horse meat (unless it's secretly ground into our Taco Bell). But throughout the world, horse meat consumption is quite common.

In Japan, visit an izakaya (a Japanese bar-restaurant) and you'll likely come across Basashi – which is horse meat – cooked or uncooked.

And that is where we pick up our story...

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Japan Facts:

  • Japan is the 3rd largest importer of horse meat in the world (OEC)
    • In 2022, Japan imported $42.4M in horse meat
    • ...making horse meat was the 766th most imported product in Japan
  • Japan imports Horse Meat primarily from: 
    • Canada ($13.3M)
    • Uruguay ($6.5M)
    • Argentina ($5.82M)
    • China ($4M)
    • Mexico ($3.37M)
  • Estimated to produce (consume?) 4,870 tons of horse meat in 2022 (Statista)

💡 Basashi in Kumamoto, Kyushu, Japan (Umami Info)