Takeda Farm — Hokkaido Wagyu Family Farm

Takeda Farm sits at the foot of the Daisetsuzan mountain range in Hokkaido. With their 30+ years of experience in Wagyu genetics and the intense winter of Hokkaido, they raise well loved cows and beef of the highest quality.

Takeda Farm's Wagyu

After 30 years of pioneering Wagyu genetics and veterinary practices for farms across Hokkaido, Takeda Farms established their own ranching operation in 2022, and are proud to send their Wagyu off to America, marking the first availability of their beef outside of Japan.

Tomoko-san, a friendly older Japanese woman, presenting the viewer with a beautiful ribeye

Tomoko-san, a friendly older Japanese woman, looking off to the right

Ellie's father, Tetsuo, spent his career teaching Wagyu embryo transfer to farms across Hokkaido before starting his own herd — just six cows — at the base of the Daisetsuzan mountains. He earned his veterinarian's license, raised his family, and built what is now Takeda Farm, one relationship at a time.

He's since passed. Ellie and her mother, Tomoko-san, run the farm together now.

Matt and Ellie Takeda walking together across the snowy farm

Matt and Ellie at the farm

Tomoko-san ladling soup over a charcoal grill in the snow

Tomoko-san, who runs the farm with Ellie

Just like with embryo transfer, my father's work was preserving the cattle's genetics — passing the baton of life. So I want to somehow take that baton from him, and do my best to carry it on to what comes next.

— Ellie Takeda

It's why Ellie says she's stopped apologizing to the animals she raises:

I've stopped saying “I'm sorry” and started saying “thank you.” Receiving a life means passing the baton of life.

— Ellie Takeda

Takemitsu-chan is available to purchase now: pick your peak!

To honor the whole animal, we've portioned cuts from across the cow into five boxes, each named for a peak in the Daisetsuzan mountain range behind Takeda Farm.