Gov. Jim Pillen and Nebraska’s trade delegation thanked one of Japan’s top food companies during a dinner in Tokyo, highlighting the state’s growing role in supplying pork and beef to Asian markets.
Pillen met with executives from Nippon Foods, also known as Nippon Ham, along with Tyson Foods representatives. He praised Nippon Foods for its long-standing purchases of Nebraska agricultural products and emphasized how the state’s livestock producers use advanced technology to raise high-quality protein with fewer resources.
Founded in 1942, Nippon Foods is a major importer of pork into Japan. The company retails ham and sausage products, including several that hold top market share. Nippon also owns the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, a professional baseball team that once featured Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani.
Nebraska pork has gained ground in Japan as California’s Proposition 12 has increased costs for producers there. From 2023 to 2024, California’s pork exports to Japan fell by $39 million, while Nebraska’s rose by $26 million. In 2024, Nebraska exported more than $177 million worth of pork to Japan, accounting for 41% of the state’s pork exports and ranking second among U.S. states.
The Nebraska delegation will continue its mission Tuesday with a luncheon at Sizzler, a restaurant chain now serving Nebraska bone-in ribeye. Leaders will meet with Nippon Steel Trading, which imports both pork and beef, to thank the company for its support.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Nebraska exported a record $2 billion in beef in 2024, including $397 million to Japan. Nearly 20% of the state’s beef exports went to Japan, its second-largest market for the product.
Earlier in the trip, Nebraska leaders joined U.S. and Japanese governors in a joint meeting and held talks with the Japan External Trade Organization, a government-related group that promotes international trade and investment.
AloJapan.com