It has been just over a week since U.S. beef returned to Japan after an almo...

It has been just over a week since U.S. beef returned to Japan after an almost two-year absence, and the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) is already wrapping up a host of market reopening activities with an appreciation luncheon in Tokyo on Wednesday featuring U.S. beef.

USMEF President & CEO Philip M. Seng conveyed the gratitude of the U.S. beef industry for the support shown by Japanese partners during the U.S. beef ban and expressed USMEF's intention to work closely with those partners in rebuilding consumer confidence in Japan.

Seng spoke at a kansha (appreciation) luncheon at the Hotel Okura in Tokyo arranged by USMEF for loyal supporters who consistently championed U.S. beef and waited impatiently for trade resumption, which finally happened when the Japanese government lifted its ban Dec. 12.

"It's unbelievable that it's been two years since the closure of the market, but I would like to say on behalf of the entire U.S. red meat industry that we are very pleased and excited to be back in the Japanese market with our wonderful product," Seng said.

U.S. Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer and Seng performed a ceremonial cutting of U.S. beef to commemorate the lifting of the ban and to observe the continued close working relationship between the U.S. and Japanese industries.

“The resumption is a good first step, and the United States will keep making efforts to win Japanese consumer confidence in U.S. beef by promoting the safety and quality of U.S. beef products,” Schieffer said.

Approximately 50 representatives of Japanese trade associations, importers, manufacturers, foodservice chains and retailers sat down to a lunch of U.S. roast beef and U.S. beef tenderloin steaks prepared by Hotel Okura’s executive grand chef.

Guest of honor Tadahito Iguchi, the first everyday Japanese baseball player to win a World Series championship, also spoke at the luncheon to welcome U.S. beef back to Japan. Iguchi, a second baseman for the Chicago Whie Sox, has been a great proponent of U.S. beef in Japan since he enjoys eating beef in the United States.

"I really started following Iguchi’s career when I read that he attributed his power to eating American beef," Schieffer told reporters at the lunch.

The luncheon capped off a whirlwind of activities for USMEF since the reopening of the Japanese market, the No. 1 market for U.S. beef exports in 2003 worth $1.4 billion.

USMEF helped coordinate and host visits by two teams representing the government of Japan to observe 10 different U.S. beef packing plants and other facilities that want to qualify under the U.S. Department of Agriculture beef export verification program for Japan.

U.S. beef shipments to Japan must meet certain safety conditions, including meat from cattle aged up to 20 months and the removal of specified risk material that could transmit bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

During a visit to the Swift & Co. plant in Greeley, Colo. Thursday, Japanese media were allowed to view and film portions of the audit process being observed by Japanese government officials, and the reporters were provided a rare opportunity to tour the entire plant to show Japanese consumers the steps and procedures to ensure U.S. beef is safe.

Japanese media also gathered last Friday at Yusen, an air and freight company in Denver, to send off the 285-pound shipment of U.S. beef for the luncheon, which arrived in Tokyo on Sunday. Seng, along with Japanese officials and media, met the shipment at Narita International Airport, welcoming U.S. beef back to Japan.

USMEF will open 2006 with a New Year’s greeting in Japan’s major newspapers conveying a positive message of goodwill and a prosperous new year, and will work throughout the year using education, promotion and kansha to regain Japanese consumer confidence in U.S. beef.

The U.S. Meat Export Federation is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, lamb, corn, sorghum and soybean checkoff programs.

– USMEF –

The following photos are available with the release:

Photo 1– USMEF President & CEO Philip M. Seng (right) and U.S. Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer perform a ceremonial cutting of U.S. beef to at a luncheon in Tokyo on Wednesday to commemorate the lifting of the Japanese ban on U.S. beef.

Photo 2– USMEF President & CEO Philip M. Seng greets one of the first arrivals of U.S. beef to Japan at the Tokyo airport last Sunday. The U.S. beef was served at a USMEF appreciation luncheon on Wednesday for Japanese meat trade representatives.

Photo 3– Mick Kobayashi of Yusen, an air shipment facility in Denver, seals part of a consolidated shipment of U.S. beef destined for Tokyo to be enjoyed at the USMEF celebration luncheon on Wednesday.

Photo 4- Japanese media view and film portions of U.S. safety processes at the Swift & Co. beef processing plant in Greeley, Colo. last week as part of the U.S. industry's efforts to show Japanese consumers U.S. beef is safe.