Maeda Michio and Hoki Maeda Farm Beneath Mt Daisen
A watermelon grower turned Wagyu farmer set out to win a national cattle prize and built a breeding farm of about 190 head in Tottori.
Who Is Maeda Michio?
Maeda Michio runs Hoki Maeda Farm in Hoki-cho, in western Tottori Prefecture, at the foot of Mt Daisen. His grandfather raised dairy cows and watermelons. Michio began with watermelons and won a national top prize for them, then became a cattle farmer with a specific goal: to win a national cattle award. This profile rests on a single feature, Nihonmono's article on Hoki Maeda Farm, and covers his public record as a farmer only.
A Breeding Farm of About 190 Head
The farm is a breeding operation. It keeps about 190 head, nearly all of them breeding stock, and only about 10 fattening cattle. Michio handles fattening and his son handles mating. Rising feed costs and falling beef consumption have kept the family from expanding the fattening side.
Compare this with the fattening-focused operations described elsewhere: the Fukunaga Farm profile describes about 200 head fattened in a 20-month cycle, whereas Hoki Maeda keeps mostly breeding cows. The two farms show the two halves of the Wagyu chain.
Keeping Cattle Stress-Free
The family's approach to handling is simple and specific. They focus on keeping cattle stress-free, with consistent feeding times and the same caretaker when possible, and they learn each animal's temperament. That echoes the daily attention described on other award-winning farms, such as Kawamura Farm in Miyagi, where feed and barn conditions are tuned to the animals.
The National Wagyu Show and Hakuho 85-3
The family's main goal is the National Wagyu Beef Proficiency Show, held once every five years and judged across eight divisions covering appearance and meat quality. A steer entered by Tottori Prefecture, Hakuho 85-3, won first place nationally in the overall evaluation group at the 2017 show in Miyagi. Afterward, demand for its bloodline grew, and calves from it sell for higher prices. The article does not spell out the farm's exact share in that entry.
At the 2022 event in Kagoshima, Tottori placed 10th in the overall evaluation and 6th in fat quality. Results at this level matter commercially: the article says calves from the first-place bloodline now sell for higher prices, which is how a show ribbon turns into income for breeding farms.
The Key to Maeda's Success
What the record shows is persistence toward one clearly stated goal, and a willingness to carry a skill from one crop to another.
The limits are stated plainly in the article too. Rising feed costs and falling beef consumption have kept the family from growing the fattening side, and the 2022 national result, tenth overall for Tottori, was well below the first place of 2017.
- He moved from watermelons, where he won a national prize, to cattle with a similar goal.
- He split the work on the farm: Michio fattens and his son handles mating.
- He kept the herd focused on breeding because of feed costs and falling beef consumption.
- He manages for low stress with fixed feeding times and a consistent caretaker.
- He aims at the national show, which rewards both appearance and meat quality.
What Comes Next
The family plans to enter the female cow division as well, aiming to win for both meat quality and appearance. For more profiles of working cattle farms, see the ranching section of farm.FM, or read a farm.FM story about Tottori and Wagyu beef. Because only one detailed source was available, this profile is marked as thin.
Timeline
- EarlierGrandfather raises dairy cows and watermelons
- Before cattleMichio grows watermelons and wins a national top prize
- 2017Tottori's Hakuho 85-3 takes first place in the overall evaluation group at the national show in Miyagi
- 2022Tottori places 10th overall and 6th in fat quality at the national show in Kagoshima
- NowPlans to enter the female cow division
Frequently asked questions
Who is Maeda Michio?
Maeda Michio runs Hoki Maeda Farm in Hoki-cho, Tottori Prefecture, a Wagyu breeding operation of about 190 head at the foot of Mt Daisen. He handles the fattening side of the farm.
What is Hakuho 85-3?
Hakuho 85-3 is a steer entered by Tottori Prefecture that won first place in the overall evaluation group at the 2017 National Wagyu show in Miyagi. Demand for its bloodline rose afterward.
How often is the National Wagyu show held?
Once every five years. It is judged across eight divisions covering appearance and meat quality, according to the Hoki Maeda Farm profile.
How big is Hoki Maeda Farm?
About 190 head, nearly all breeding stock, with only about 10 fattening cattle, as reported by Nihonmono.
Sources and further reading
- Nihonmono: Hoki Maeda Farm, Tottori
- MAFF aff: Fukunaga Farm, Miyazaki
- Nihonmono: Kawamura Farm, Ishinomaki
Profiles are compiled from public sources and reviewed against them. See our editorial policy to suggest a correction.
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