“Mizukami Village, Kumamoto” (熊本県水上村) in the name of this thank-you gift is the municipality that accepts the donation, not where the beef tongue comes from. The ingredients field lists beef tongue (from Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Central and South America, the United States, and Canada), and the processing location is given as Kuma District, Kumamoto Prefecture. This article covers the frozen thick-cut beef tongue on the Rakuten Furusato Nozei application page, a thank-you gift for furusato nozei (hometown tax donation program) donations, where you choose the quantity (10 options from 500g to 5kg). We organized five points to check before choosing: quantity, shelf life, ingredient labeling, suitability as a gift, and reviews.
What We Confirmed
- Quantity and how many servings
- Storage method and shelf life
- Ingredients and allergen labeling
- Whether it works as a gift
- Trends in public reviews
Basic Information
This table transcribes what is stated on the application page. However, the “Not confirmed” labels and any notes we add are our own.
| Product name | Thick-Cut Beef Tongue, Choice of Quantity 500g–5kg (厚切り牛タン 選べる容量 500g〜5kg; Mizukami Village, Kumamoto, furusato nozei)The product name shown on the Rakuten page is a long string with many search terms. Only the product-name part is shown here. |
|---|---|
| Name | 厚切り牛タン（軟化加工） (thick-cut beef tongue, tenderized)Source: name field on the Rakuten Furusato Nozei application page (accessed October 6, 2026) |
| Reason for “wakeari” | “Wakeari” (imperfect/irregular, sold at a discount) appears only in the product name and the search terms; the application page does not explain what is irregular about it: Not confirmedSource: product name and product description on the application page (accessed October 6, 2026) |
| Quantity | Choose from 10 options: 500g / 700g / 1kg / 1.2kg / 1.4kg / 2kg / 2.5kg / 3kg / 4kg / 5kg. The product name says one pack is 500g. According to an image on the product page, the packs are: 500g = 500g×1, 700g = 300g×1 and 400g×1, 1kg = 500g×2, 1.2kg = 400g×3, 1.4kg = 400g×1 and 500g×2, and 2kg–5kg = 500g×4–10 packs. As a guide to servings, the same image says one pack (500g) serves 4–5 people as one BBQ dish, or 2.5 people as a main dish at home. It also says the packs are difficult to divide furtherSource: selection field on the application page and an image on the product page (accessed October 6, 2026) |
| Choices that change what arrives | Quantity. The pack configuration and the shipping time change depending on the quantity (for shipping times, see the “Delivery” row). On the current selection screen, quantity is the only choiceSource: selection field on the application page (accessed October 6, 2026) |
| Thickness | The product name, product description, and an image on the product page say it is 10mm thick. This is the shop’s statement. Some reviewers wrote that the thickness did not feel special (see the “What Public Reviews Say” section)Source: product name and product description on the application page |
| Cuts | The shop’s description says the cuts used are tan-moto (tongue base) and tan-naka (tongue middle). Some reviews say there was a lot of tan-saki (tongue tip) or sinewSource: product description on the application page and an image on the product page (accessed October 6, 2026) |
| Storage | The page says it arrives frozen (vacuum-packed) and should be stored at −18°C or below. It asks you to put it in the freezer as soon as it arrives, and to avoid refreezing meat once thawed, because the quality may deteriorateSource: storage field and notes on the application page |
| Best-before | 365 days from the production dateSource: best-before field on the application page |
| How to thaw | The grilling guide in an image on the product page says to thaw it before grilling, to thaw it naturally in the refrigerator over half a day, and to cook it soon after thawing. We found no statement of how many days it keeps after thawing: Not confirmedSource: image on the product page (accessed October 6, 2026) |
| Origin of ingredients | Beef tongue (from Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Central and South America, the United States, and Canada). The ingredients are imported, not from Japan or Kumamoto. The origin field says “Europe, North America, and others” and notes that this may change depending on sourcing. Because the countries and regions in the ingredients field and the origin field do not match, we list bothSource: ingredients field and origin field on the application page (accessed October 6, 2026) |
| Processing location | Kuma District, Kumamoto PrefectureSource: processing-location field on the application page |
| Condition / how to eat (cooking required?) | Beef tongue that arrives frozen in vacuum packs, marinated in a seasoning liquid used for tenderizing. The notes say this liquid is not drip. An image on the product page says it is not for eating raw and should be cooked thoroughly all the way to the centerSource: notes on the application page and an image on the product page (accessed October 6, 2026) |
| Delivery | Frozen. It ships after the donation is confirmed: only the 1kg option labeled 【最短翌々日発送】 (fastest, ships in two days) was shown as shipping within 5 business days, and the other 9 options within 30 business days (as of October 6, 2026). The page says that, depending on when payment is made, it may not be possible to meet a requested delivery monthSource: selection field and notes on the application page (accessed October 6, 2026) |
| Manufacturer | The gift provider is given as 有限会社 上球磨農産. Whether it is the manufacturer, processor, or seller, and its address: Not confirmedSource: gift-provider field on the application page |
| Shop | Mizukami Village, Kumamoto Prefecture (Rakuten Furusato Nozei) |
Donation amounts may differ by portal and may change. Please check the current donation amount and availability at the link above.
Ingredients and allergen labeling
The beef tongue is imported. What is done in Kumamoto Prefecture is the processing; the ingredients field lists six overseas regions as the origin.
| Type | Ingredients field |
|---|---|
| 厚切り牛タン（軟化加工） (thick-cut beef tongue, tenderized) | Beef tongue (from Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Central and South America, the United States, and Canada), salt / pH adjuster, seasoning (amino acids), thickening polysaccharides, enzyme |
Source: ingredients field on the application page (accessed October 6, 2026)
We found no separate allergen labeling field on the application page, and could not confirm any statement that it contains specific allergenic ingredients, so the allergen labeling is Not confirmed. This does not mean it is allergen-free. We have not checked the provider’s official website.
If you have allergy concerns, contact the provider before applying for the donation, or check the label on the product when it arrives.
Reference: Consumer Affairs Agency, Japan, “About Allergen Labeling” (accessed October 6, 2026)
Five Things to Check Before You Donate
| What to check | For this gift | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Quantity / servings | 10 options from 500g to 5kg. As a guide to servings, the shop says one pack (500g) serves 4–5 people as one BBQ dish, or 2.5 people as a main dish at home | Selection field on the application page and an image on the product page |
| 2. Storage and shelf life | Frozen (vacuum-packed). Store at −18°C or below; best-before is 365 days from the production date. Shelf life after thawing: Not confirmed | Storage field and best-before field on the application page |
| 3. Ingredients / allergen labeling | The beef tongue is labeled as from Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Central and South America, the United States, and Canada (imported). Processed in Kuma District, Kumamoto Prefecture. We found no allergen labeling field: Not confirmed | Ingredients field and origin field on the application page |
| 4. Suitable as a gift? | Noshi, wrapping, and message cards: Not confirmed. It may not be possible to meet a requested delivery month | Application page (no information in the noshi, wrapping, or message card fields) |
| 5. Review trends | Rated 4.46/5 on Rakuten Ichiba (3,171 reviews). We read the first 60 reviews in Rakuten’s default order (posted from October 2025 to October 2026), 30 ★1 reviews, and 30 ★2 reviews. The following are trends within what we read and do not necessarily reflect the current state of the product. Many mention tenderness and thickness, while among the ★1 and ★2 reviews, posts mentioning toughness and odor stand out. Reviews of past options are also mixed in | Rakuten reviews (みんなのレビュー) (accessed October 6, 2026) |
Whether it works as a gift
We found no information on the application page about whether noshi (gift wrapping label) is available or what inscriptions are offered, wrapping, or message cards (Source: Rakuten Furusato Nozei application page, accessed October 6, 2026).
- Noshi: whether it is available and what inscriptions are offered: Not confirmed
- Wrapping / gift box: Not confirmed
- Message card / name printing: Not confirmed
- Delivery address: we found no statement on whether it can be sent to an address other than the donor’s (Not confirmed)
- Enclosures: an image on the product page says the grilling guide is also included with gifts
The search terms on the product page include words such as gift and for presents, but these do not indicate noshi or wrapping support. If you plan to use it as a gift, check how noshi, wrapping, and delivery addresses are handled on the application page or with the municipality before you apply.
What Public Reviews Say
We organized the product reviews on Rakuten Ichiba by topic. Rating figures are as of the time of viewing and change afterward. The following are trends within what we read and do not necessarily reflect the current state of the product.
| Site | Rating | Reviews | Accessed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rakuten reviews (みんなのレビュー) (product page) | 4.46 / 5 | 3,171 | October 6, 2026 |
Rating breakdown: ★5 2,141 / ★4 691 / ★3 141 / ★2 64 / ★1 134 (as shown on Rakuten Ichiba, accessed October 6, 2026)
What we read: the first 60 reviews in the default order (posted from October 2025 to October 2026, the latest in October 2026), 30 reviews filtered to ★1 (out of 134; posted from November 2024 to October 2026), and 30 reviews filtered to ★2 (out of 64; posted from November 2023 to September 2026), for a total of 120. We read only some of the ★1 and ★2 reviews, so these do not represent overall proportions.
Overall, ★5 accounts for about 68% (2,141 of 3,171), and ★1 and ★2 together total 198 (about 6%). Because the review section is shared across the product page, it also includes posts about options not on the current selection screen (which offers quantity only), such as thin-sliced, block, and with diced steak. Even among the 60 default-order reviews, 3 explicitly mentioned thin-sliced.
What Reviewers Praise
Tenderness and ease of biting
28 of the 60 default-order reviews said it was tender even though thick-cut, or easy to bite through (all posted in the last two years).
Thickness and heartiness
25 of the 60 default-order reviews said it was thick or filling. On the other hand, 1 review said it was an ordinary thickness often seen and did not feel special (★5, August 2026), so impressions of the thickness vary.
Thin vacuum packs that are easy to store / divided into packs
9 of the 60 default-order reviews said the flat vacuum packs of about 500g each fit easily in the freezer.
How to check: the pack configuration is summarized in the “Quantity” row of this article’s “Basic Information.”
Enclosed grilling guide / easy to grill thanks to scoring
7 of the 60 default-order reviews mentioned the enclosed grilling guide, or said the scored cuts made it easy to grill.
Source: Rakuten reviews (みんなのレビュー) (accessed October 6, 2026)
What Reviewers Note
The counts here are out of the 60 reviews we read after filtering to ★1 and ★2. They are not proportions of all 3,171 reviews.
Toughness / hard to bite through / tongue tip and sinew
23 of the 60 ★1 and ★2 reviews (9 ★1 and 14 ★2; 16 of them posted in the last two years) said it was tough, could not be bitten through, or had a lot of tongue tip or sinew. Among the 60 default-order reviews, there was 1.
How to check: the shop’s description of the cuts is summarized in the “Cuts” row of this article’s “Basic Information.”
Odor / smell
11 of the 60 ★1 and ★2 reviews (5 ★1 and 6 ★2; 7 of them posted in the last two years) said they noticed an odor or smell. Among the 60 default-order reviews, 2 said there was no odor.
The ingredients being imported
6 of the 30 ★2 reviews (2 of them posted in the last two years) mentioned that the ingredients are from overseas and said they were disappointed. There were 0 among the 30 ★1 reviews.
How to check: the origin of the ingredients and the processing location are summarized in the “Origin of ingredients” and “Processing location” rows of this article’s “Basic Information.”
Source: Rakuten reviews (みんなのレビュー) (accessed October 6, 2026)
Who It Suits / Who Should Be Careful
Who It Suits
- People who want to choose the amount, from 500g to 5kg
- People who want frozen beef tongue vacuum-packed in portions of about 500g, to thaw and grill
- People who want to try a thick cut labeled as 10mm thick
- People who can choose it understanding that it is described as “wakeari” but no reason is given
Who Should Be Careful
- People who want to confirm that the ingredients are imported before deciding (not from Japan or Kumamoto)
- People concerned about toughness or odor in meat (pointed out within the ★1 and ★2 reviews we read)
- People with allergy concerns (we found no allergen labeling field: not confirmed)
- People who want to receive it soon (only the 1kg option ships within 5 business days; the others ship within 30 business days)
- People who want to give it as a gift with noshi, wrapping, or a message card (not confirmed)
- People who want to know the shelf life after thawing before deciding (not confirmed)
Furusato nozei is for people who pay resident tax in Japan. You cannot receive the tax deduction without a Japanese address on January 1 of the following year, the One-Stop Exception requires a My Number, and the application pages are almost entirely in Japanese. Donation amounts, availability, and shipping times change. This article’s information-as-of date is October 6, 2026. Please be sure to check the listing at the link before you donate.
This article contains affiliate links (advertising). Editorial Policy
Summary
- You choose the quantity (10 options from 500g to 5kg). Frozen and vacuum-packed, with a best-before of 365 days from the production date. The beef tongue is imported (labeled as from Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Central and South America, the United States, and Canada), and the processing location is given as Kuma District, Kumamoto Prefecture
- Only the 1kg option ships within 5 business days; the others ship within 30 business days. The reason for “wakeari,” allergen labeling, shelf life after thawing, and noshi, wrapping, and message cards are not confirmed
- Among the 60 default-order reviews, many mention tenderness (28) and thickness (25), while among the 60 ★1 and ★2 reviews we read, posts mentioning toughness (23) and odor (11) stand out. Reviews of past options are also mixed in
Related Pages
This article organizes information published on furusato nozei application pages and review sites. Thank-you gift information such as quantity, storage method, and ingredients may change. Please check the application page for the latest information.
Comments on taste or quality are summarized from third-party posts cited with their source, and are not Ochinity’s own evaluation. Our approach to writing articles is described in our Editorial Policy.
Information as of: October 6, 2026 / Sources: Rakuten Furusato Nozei application page for Mizukami Village, Kumamoto Prefecture (熊本県水上村); Rakuten reviews (みんなのレビュー); Consumer Affairs Agency, Japan, “About Allergen Labeling”
![Product photo of thin slices of Omi beef for sukiyaki spread across a black plate with green leaves as a garnish (配送月が選べる 近江牛 すき焼き [Omi beef sukiyaki with a choice of delivery month]). Text the shop placed in the image: “定期便 容量も選べる” (subscription plans, size also selectable), “近江牛” (Omi beef), “すき焼き用” (for sukiyaki), “450g~470g”](https://ochinity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/eye-furusato-10000946-en-300x158.webp)
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