Genkai Town (玄海町), Saga Prefecture, is the municipality that receives the donation for this thank-you gift, and “Saga beef” (佐賀牛) in the product name is a brand designation. There is no dedicated field for the country of origin of the raw material on the listing, so it is not confirmed. The thank-you gift covered in this article, “佐賀牛 霜降り（肩ロース） スライス 焼肉 すき焼き しゃぶしゃぶ用” (Saga beef marbled shoulder loin slices for yakiniku, sukiyaki, and shabu-shabu), is a frozen thank-you gift for which you choose the use (for yakiniku or for sukiyaki), the amount, and the delivery method when you apply. Using the Rakuten Furusato Nozei listing (a portal for furusato nozei, the hometown tax donation program) and its reviews, we organized five points: amount, shelf life, ingredient labeling, suitability as a gift, and reviews.
What We Confirmed
- Amount 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 product page. However, the “not confirmed” labels and any notes we add are our own.
| Product name | 佐賀牛 霜降り（肩ロース） スライス 焼肉 すき焼き しゃぶしゃぶ用 (Saga beef marbled shoulder loin slices for yakiniku, sukiyaki, and shabu-shabu; Genkai Town, furusato nozei)The product name shown on the Rakuten listing is a long string with many search terms. Only the product-name part is shown here. |
|---|---|
| Name | 佐賀牛霜降りスライス・焼肉（肩ロース） (Saga beef marbled slices / yakiniku, shoulder loin)Source: thank-you gift details on the Rakuten Furusato Nozei listing (viewed October 5, 2026) |
| Amount | 400g (400g × 1 pack, labeled “お試し” [trial])／600g (600g × 1 pack)／800g (400g × 2 packs)／1.2kg (600g × 2 packs)／1.8kg (600g × 3 packs)／2.4kg (600g × 4 packs). The number of servings is not stated and is not confirmedSource: same as above |
| What changes depending on your choice | What arrives changes depending on the combination of use (for yakiniku / sukiyaki slices), amount, and delivery method (fastest delivery / monthly delivery / subscription). The subscription is available only for the 600g and 1.2kg sukiyaki slices, with 3, 6, or 12 deliveries. There is no subscription option for the yakiniku cut. As of October 7, 2026, the months you can choose for monthly delivery are October to April for the yakiniku cut and October to March for the sukiyaki slicesSource: selection fields and product description on the listing (viewed October 7, 2026) |
| Donation amount | It differs by the combination of use, amount, and delivery method. Because amounts change, we do not list them in this article. Please check the Rakuten Furusato Nozei listingSource: selection fields on the listing (viewed October 5, 2026) |
| Storage method | Frozen (the delivery temperature range is listed as frozen). The storage temperature figure is not confirmedSource: product description on the listing |
| Best-before date | Listed as about 2 months frozen from the processing date. The listing says items with at least 1 month remaining before the best-before date are shippedSource: product description on the listing |
| Thawing method | We found no mention on the listing or in its information images; not confirmed |
| After opening | Shelf life after thawing and precautions after opening were not found on the listing and are not confirmed |
| Origin of raw materials | We found no dedicated field on the listing; not confirmed. An information image explains, as one of the conditions for Saga beef regarding where the cattle are raised, that it is Kuroge Wagyu raised within the jurisdiction of the JA Group Saga (the shop’s statement)Source: information image on the listing (viewed October 5, 2026) |
| Place of processing | Not confirmed |
| Condition / how to eat (cooking required?) | Arrives frozen. The product description says you can choose the shoulder loin for shabu-shabu and sukiyaki (slices) or for yakiniku. We found no guidance on whether cooking is required or whether it can be eaten rawSource: product description on the listing |
| Delivery | Frozen delivery. The listing says delivery dates cannot be specified. If a delivery is made while you are away, the listing asks you to contact the delivery company directly for redelivery, and says that if the delivery company’s holding period (1 week from shipment) passes, it cannot resend or otherwise respondSource: notes on the listing |
| Shipping time | For fastest delivery, the listing says delivery is within 2 weeks at the earliest after payment (excluding Golden Week, Obon, the year-end and New Year holidays, and weekends and public holidays; it notes that donations made in December may be delivered in turn from January onward). Monthly delivery is made between the 1st and the end of the chosen month, and January deliveries start from mid-January. The subscription is delivered between the 1st and the end of each month, starting the month after payment. Shipping times shown may changeSource: product description on the listing (viewed October 5, 2026) |
| Manufacturer | The shipping business field on the listing shows 株式会社 中山牧場 (Nakayama Farm Co., Ltd.). Whether it is the manufacturer, processor, or seller, and its address, are not confirmedSource: shipping business field on the listing |
| Shop | 佐賀県玄海町 (Genkai Town, Saga Prefecture; Rakuten Furusato Nozei) |
Donation amounts differ by portal and by the size you choose, and may change. Please check the current donation amount and availability at the link above.
Ingredients and Allergen Labeling
The only ingredient listed is beef. The allergen field also lists beef, and we found no inconsistency within the listing.
If you are concerned about allergies, 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 5, 2026)
Five Things to Check Before You Donate
| Item to check | For this product | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Amount / servings | Choose from six amounts from 400g to 2.4kg, and choose the use: yakiniku or sukiyaki slices. The number of servings is not stated | Product description and selection fields on the Rakuten Furusato Nozei listing |
| 2. Storage and shelf life | Frozen. The best-before date is listed as about 2 months frozen from the processing date. Thawing method, shelf life after thawing, and precautions after opening are not confirmed | Product description on the listing |
| 3. Ingredients / allergen labeling | Beef. The allergen labeling is also beef, consistent within the listing | Product description and allergen field on the listing |
| 4. Suitable as a gift? | The listing says wrapping and noshi are not available, and delivery dates cannot be specified. Message cards are not confirmed | Notes on the listing |
| 5. Review trends | Rated 4.29/5 on Rakuten Ichiba (1,146 reviews). We read the first 60 reviews in Rakuten’s default order (posted October 2025 to October 2026; latest October 2026), 30 of the 1★ reviews (96 in total; posted September 2023 to May 2026; latest May 2026), and 30 of the 2★ reviews (55 in total; posted January 2023 to September 2026; latest September 2026). The following are trends within what we read and may not reflect the product’s current condition. Some reviewers mention tenderness and the sweetness of the fat, while 1★ and 2★ reviews frequently point out toughness and sinew | Rakuten customer reviews (viewed October 5, 2026) |
Suitable as a Gift?
The notes on the listing say that wrapping and noshi (a decorative gift wrapper) are not available. The related-keywords field on the same listing includes terms such as noshi, gift box, and delivery date specification, but because these do not match the notes, this article follows the notes (Source: Rakuten Furusato Nozei listing, viewed October 5, 2026).
- Noshi: the listing says it is not available
- Wrapping / gift box: the listing says wrapping is not available
- Message card / name printing: no mention found; not confirmed
- Delivery date specification: the listing says it is not accepted
- Delivery address: for furusato nozei thank-you gifts, the delivery address is based on the donor’s application information. We found no mention of whether it can be delivered to an address other than the donor’s (not confirmed). For fastest delivery, the listing says cancellations and changes to the delivery address are not possible after applying
Since noshi, wrapping, and delivery date specification are all unavailable, if you plan to use it as a gift, please check how it is delivered on the listing before applying.
What Public Reviews Say
We organized the product reviews on Rakuten Ichiba by topic. Rating figures are as of the time we viewed them and change afterward. The following are trends within what we read and may not reflect the product’s current condition.
| Site | Rating | Reviews | Viewed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rakuten customer reviews (product page) | 4.29 / 5 | 1,146 | October 5, 2026 |
Rating breakdown: 5★ 792 / 4★ 142 / 3★ 61 / 2★ 55 / 1★ 96 (as shown on Rakuten Ichiba, viewed October 5, 2026)
What we read: the first 60 reviews in Rakuten’s default order (posted October 2025 to October 2026; latest October 2026), plus 30 of the 1★ reviews (96 in total; posted September 2023 to May 2026; latest May 2026) and 30 of the 2★ reviews (55 in total; posted January 2023 to September 2026; latest September 2026), 120 in total. These are trends within what we read and may not reflect the product’s current condition.
There are 151 1★ and 2★ reviews in total, of which we read 60. Of the 60 we read, 18 were posted in the last 2 years (October 2024 or later), and most of the rest were posted in 2023. Because we cannot tell whether old low ratings reflect the product’s current condition, we have not judged whether it has improved or worsened.
What Reviewers Praise
Tenderness and melt-in-the-mouth texture
About 18 of the first 60 reviews in the default order said the meat was tender or had a texture that seemed to melt in the mouth (all posted in the last 2 years).
Sweetness of the fat and the look of the marbling
About 8 reviews mentioned the sweetness of the fat or that it was not heavy, and about 16 mentioned the marbling or how the marbled meat looked. Reviews that mention both are counted in both.
Satisfaction with the amount
About 10 of the first 60 reviews mentioned the amount or feeling satisfied. Most of them said they used it for sukiyaki.
Repeat applications
About 22 of the first 60 reviews said they apply every year or that this was their second or later application.
Source: Rakuten customer reviews (viewed October 5, 2026)
What Reviewers Note
Toughness and sinew
About 41 of the 60 1★ and 2★ reviews said the meat was tough, had a lot of sinew, or was hard to bite through (about 21 1★ and about 20 2★; about 11 of these were posted in the last 2 years). On the other hand, about 18 of the 60 reviews in the default order said it was tender, so opinions on the same product are divided.
We found no information about sinew or toughness on the listing (not confirmed).
Amount of fat
About 19 of the 60 1★ and 2★ reviews said there was a lot of fat or that it was greasy (about 10 1★ and about 9 2★; about 9 of these were posted in the last 2 years).
We found no information about the amount of fat on the listing (not confirmed).
Thickness of the meat and difference from its appearance
Among the 60 1★ and 2★ reviews, about 11 said the meat was thick and did not feel suited to sukiyaki or shabu-shabu (about 4 of these posted in the last 2 years), and about 13 said it looked different from the product photos or the marbling shown (about 5 of these posted in the last 2 years).
How to check: the options for use (yakiniku / sukiyaki slices) and amount are summarized under “What changes depending on your choice” in the Basic Information section of this article.
Source: Rakuten customer reviews (viewed October 5, 2026)
Who It Suits / Who Should Be Careful
Who It Suits
- People looking for a frozen thank-you gift where you choose the use (yakiniku or sukiyaki) and the amount
- People looking for a subscription that delivers sukiyaki slices every month (600g or 1.2kg; 3, 6, or 12 deliveries)
- People who are fine with a thank-you gift delivered frozen (the thawing method is not confirmed, so also check the instructions with the product when it arrives)
Who Should Be Careful
- People concerned about tough meat, sinew, or a lot of fat (frequently pointed out in 1★ and 2★ reviews)
- People who want to know the thawing method or shelf life after thawing in advance (not confirmed)
- People who need noshi, wrapping, or a specified delivery date (the listing says these are not available)
- People who want to know how many servings it makes before deciding (not stated)
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 5, 2026. Please be sure to check the listing at the link before you donate.
This article contains affiliate links (advertising). Editorial Policy
Summary
- Choose from six amounts from 400g to 2.4kg, and choose the use: yakiniku or sukiyaki slices. It is stored frozen, and the best-before date is listed as about 2 months frozen from the processing date
- Thawing method, shelf life after thawing, and precautions after opening are not confirmed. The listing says wrapping and noshi are not available and delivery dates cannot be specified
- In reviews, some mention tenderness and the sweetness of the fat, while about 41 of the 60 1★ and 2★ reviews mention toughness or sinew, so opinions on the same product are divided
Related Pages
This article organizes information published on furusato nozei listings and review sites. Information about the thank-you gift, such as amount, storage method, and ingredients, may change. Please check the listing 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 5, 2026 / Sources: Rakuten Furusato Nozei “佐賀県玄海町” (Genkai Town, Saga) listing, Rakuten customer reviews, 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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