Currency differences???

[TokyoBayer]

@Cerowyn

Japanese beef is terribly expensive because it’s farmed in a very particular way. However, most beef sold in Japan is Australian, American or Canadian (depending on the current mad-cow-scare-of-the-month), and it’s a lot cheaper. You’d probably still find it expensive compared to North American prices, but it’s not so much that I’d think twice about buying a 300-400 grams for a pasta sauce or Cottage pie.

In the old days before they opened the market, all beef was expensive here. Once they allowed imports, the price has gone down tremendously.