A little reason to celebrate

National Wagyu Day

Food · June 21

A day for wagyu, the Japanese cattle breeds known for beef with fine, dense marbling and a rich, buttery texture.

National Wagyu Day falls on Monday, June 21, 2027. That is 237 days away.

Wagyu is a name for several breeds of Japanese cattle, and for the beef they produce. The word simply means Japanese cow. What sets the meat apart is marbling: thin threads of fat running all through the muscle rather than sitting at the edges.

That fat melts at a lower temperature than in most beef, so a slice of wagyu can seem to soften the moment it hits a warm pan. The flavor is rich and mild at once, and the texture is closer to butter than to a chewy steak. A little goes a long way. Many people find a few thin slices more satisfying than a thick cut.

Because it is so rich, wagyu is often cooked simply and served in small portions. In Japan it turns up thinly sliced in hot pot dishes, seared briefly on a grill, or served as small cubes of steak. American cooks also fold it into burgers, where the extra fat keeps the patty juicy.

Cooking it asks for restraint. A hot, dry pan, a pinch of salt and a short sear are usually enough, and the meat benefits from resting a few minutes before slicing. Some cooks render a trimmed piece of the fat first and use it to grease the pan.

Wagyu raised outside Japan is often crossbred with other cattle, so labels vary. Reading the package or asking the butcher what breed and grade you are getting tells you more than the word alone.

Ways to celebrate

Try a few thin slices of wagyu seared quickly in a hot pan.
Ask a local butcher how their wagyu was raised and graded.
Cook a wagyu burger and compare it with your usual one.
Share a small wagyu dish so everyone gets a taste.
Look up how wagyu is used in Japanese hot pot.

Dates

Year	Date
2026	Sunday, June 21
2027	Monday, June 21
2028	Wednesday, June 21
2029	Thursday, June 21
2030	Friday, June 21

All national days on June 21

Also on June 21

Categories: Food days