“Miyazaki City” in the name of this thank-you gift is the municipality that accepts the donation. The application page states that the seasoning, freezing, and packing are done within Miyazaki City, but Miyazaki City is not where the beef tongue itself comes from (the beef tongue is labeled as imported, and the country is not stated on the application page: not confirmed). This article covers the “wakeari” (imperfect/irregular, sold at a discount) thick-cut and thin-sliced beef tongue (牛タン 厚切り 薄切り 塩 たれ) on the Rakuten Furusato Nozei application page, a thank-you gift for furusato nozei (hometown tax donation program) donations. You choose the thickness, flavor, quantity, and shipping time, and 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 | Beef Tongue, Thick-Cut or Thin-Sliced, Salt or Tare (牛タン 厚切り 薄切り 塩 たれ; Miyazaki City, 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 | 《訳あり》牛タン (“wakeari” beef tongue)Source: gift description on the Rakuten Furusato Nozei application page (accessed October 5, 2026) |
| Reason for “wakeari” | The page explains that it is sold as “wakeari” because the shape and thickness are unevenSource: product description on the application page (accessed October 5, 2026) |
| Quantity | Choose from 500g (500g×1) / 1kg (500g×2) / 1.5kg (500g×3) / 2kg (500g×4). One pack is 500g. The number of servings is not stated: Not confirmedSource: same as above |
| Choices that change what arrives | Four choices: thickness (thin-sliced, about 1.5–2mm / thick-cut, about 7–8mm), flavor (salt / tare sauce / salt and tare), quantity, and shipping time. An information image says the thick-cut comes in salt flavor only. Which combinations are available may change in the selection fields on the application pageSource: selection fields, product description, and information images on the application page (accessed October 5, 2026) |
| Donation amount | Differs by the thickness, flavor, and quantity you choose. The application page says some donation amounts were changed from October 1, 2026. This article does not list the amounts, so please check the selection fields on the application page before you applySource: notice on the application page (accessed October 5, 2026) |
| Storage | Frozen. The page says to store it in the freezer (−18°C or below) as soon as it arrives. It also says to avoid refreezing meat once thawed, because the quality and flavor deteriorateSource: notes on the application page |
| Best-before | 180 days. We found no statement of the starting point (production date or shipping date): Not confirmedSource: product description on the application page |
| How to thaw | We found no specific instructions: Not confirmed |
| Notes after opening | The page says to eat it as soon as possible after opening. We found no statement of shelf life after thawing: Not confirmedSource: notes on the application page |
| Origin of ingredients | Beef tongue (imported). We found no statement of the country it is imported from: Not confirmedSource: ingredients field on the application page (thick-cut: 「牛タン（輸入）」 (beef tongue (imported)); thin-sliced: 「牛タン：輸入」 (beef tongue: imported)) |
| Processing location | The local-product criteria field on the application page states that the ingredients are sourced and then seasoned, frozen, and packed within the area (the accepting municipality is Miyazaki City). For the thin-sliced type, the ingredients field shows 「牛タン加工品（国内製造）」 (processed beef tongue (made in Japan))Source: local-product criteria field and ingredients field on the application page |
| Seasoning | The thick-cut is described as seasoned with flake salt handmade at 宮崎海塩工房 (Miyazaki Kaien Kobo). The salt flavor of the thin-sliced is described as seasoned with a special salt sauce. We found no description of how the tare flavor is seasoned: Not confirmedSource: product description on the application page |
| Condition / how to eat (cooking required?) | Arrives as frozen seasoned meat. The thin-sliced is described as ready to grill after thawing, and the thick-cut as easy to cook by simply grilling. The notes say to cook it thoroughly all the way to the center before eating. We found no guidance on whether it can be eaten rawSource: product description and notes on the application page |
| Seasoning liquid | The page says it arrives packed while marinated in the original seasoning liquid, and that the seasoning liquid is not drip. It also says the amount of seasoning liquid may vary by packageSource: notes on the application page |
| Delivery | The page says it is sent by cool delivery (whether frozen or refrigerated delivery is not stated: not confirmed). The page says cool delivery is not available to some remote islandsSource: product description and notes on the application page |
| Shipping time | The selection field showed November shipping, December shipping, fastest delivery (scheduled to ship within 2 weeks after payment is confirmed), and sequential shipping (scheduled to ship within 1–2 months after payment is confirmed, or by the end of the following month) (as of October 5, 2026). Shipping-time information may changeSource: selection fields on the Rakuten Furusato Nozei application page (accessed October 5, 2026) |
| Manufacturer | The gift provider is サン・フード合同会社 (Sun Food LLC). Whether it is the manufacturer, processor, or seller, and its address: Not confirmedSource: gift-provider field on the application page |
| Shop | Miyazaki City, Miyazaki 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.
Cuts (as Described on the Application Page)
| Thickness | Description on the application page |
|---|---|
| Thick-cut (about 7–8mm) | An information image on the application page says it mainly uses the tan-moto (tongue base) and tan-naka (tongue middle), and that the tan-saki (tongue tip) and tan-shita (underside of the tongue) are removed. The image has a note that it is for illustration only. |
| Thin-sliced (about 1.5–2mm) | Described as formed beef tongue, made from parts of beef tongue and shaped to be easy to eat. |
Among the 60 reviews we read after filtering to ★1 and ★2 (posted from July 2023 to September 2026, the latest in September 2026), 2 said that parts corresponding to the tongue tip or underside of the tongue were mixed in. This is a trend within what we read and does not necessarily reflect the current state of the product. The information on the application page and these reviews differ, and the application page does not let us confirm which reflects the actual condition.
Ingredients and Allergen Labeling
The beef tongue is labeled as imported for both the thick-cut and thin-sliced types. What is done in Japan is the processing of the thin-sliced type (labeled as made in Japan) and the seasoning, freezing, and packing. The ingredients field is split between the thick-cut and the thin-sliced (salt sauce flavor and tare flavor).
| Type | Ingredients field |
|---|---|
| Thick-cut beef tongue | Beef tongue (imported), salt / pH adjuster, seasoning (amino acids, etc.), (contains beef in part) |
| Thin-sliced, salt sauce flavor | Beef tongue, salt sauce (starch syrup, soy sauce, salt, vegetable oil, garlic, spices) / seasoning (amino acids, etc.), pH adjuster, phosphate (Na), sodium caseinate, antioxidant (vitamin C), acidulant, thickener (xanthan gum), vitamin B1, enzyme |
| Thin-sliced, tare flavor | Beef tongue, yakiniku sauce (sugar, soy sauce, processed garlic, fruit juice (pear, peach, apple, lemon), roasted sesame, mustard, salt, powdered reduced starch syrup, brewed vinegar, honey, yeast extract, red chili pepper, garlic extract, pepper, agar) / thickener (processed starch, xanthan), alcohol, seasoning (amino acids, etc.), antioxidant (vitamin C), paprika color, flavoring |
Source: ingredients field on the application page (accessed October 5, 2026)
For allergen labeling, both the “アレルギー” (allergy) field and the “アレルギー情報” (allergy information) field on the application page list the same 8 items: milk, wheat, beef, gelatin, soybeans, sesame, peach, and apple, and we found no discrepancy. However, these 8 items are labeling for the product as a whole, and no breakdown by flavor is given. For example, the parenthetical note in the ingredients field for the thick-cut (salt flavor) mentions only beef. Because the application page does not let us determine which items each option contains, we mark this as Not confirmed.
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 5, 2026)
Five Things to Check Before You Donate
| What to check | For this gift | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Quantity / servings | From 500g (500g×1) to 2kg (500g×4). You also choose the thickness (thick-cut / thin-sliced) and flavor (salt / tare / salt and tare). The number of servings is not stated | Product description and selection fields on the Rakuten Furusato Nozei application page |
| 2. Storage and shelf life | Frozen (−18°C or below). Best-before stated as 180 days. How to thaw and shelf life after thawing: Not confirmed | Product description and notes on the application page |
| 3. Ingredients / allergen labeling | The beef tongue is imported (country: Not confirmed). The allergen labeling lists 8 items: milk, wheat, beef, gelatin, soybeans, sesame, peach, and apple, with no breakdown by flavor | Ingredients field and allergen field on the application page |
| 4. Suitable as a gift? | Noshi, wrapping, and message cards: Not confirmed. We also found no statement on whether it can be sent to someone other than the donor | Application page (no information in the noshi, wrapping, or message card fields) |
| 5. Review trends | Rated 4.35/5 on Rakuten Ichiba (1,701 reviews). We read the first 60 reviews in Rakuten’s default order (posted from October 2025 to August 2026, the latest in August 2026), 30 ★1 reviews (posted from March 2025 to September 2026), and 30 ★2 reviews (posted from July 2023 to April 2026). The following are trends within what we read and do not necessarily reflect the current state of the product. Many mention the thickness and how filling it is, while among the ★1 and ★2 reviews, posts mentioning toughness and odor stand out | Rakuten reviews (みんなのレビュー) (accessed October 5, 2026) |
Suitable 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. The product description has a field listing words such as hospitality, sharing, and visiting family, but this is a list of search terms, not a statement about noshi or wrapping support (Source: Rakuten Furusato Nozei application page, accessed October 5, 2026).
- Noshi: whether it is available and what inscriptions are offered is 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)
- Delivery: the page says it is sent by cool delivery (whether frozen or refrigerated delivery is not confirmed). The page says cool delivery is not available to some remote islands
The application page says that donation applications cannot be canceled and thank-you gifts cannot be changed or returned. If you plan to use it as a gift, check how noshi, wrapping, and delivery addresses are handled on the application page 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) | 4.35 / 5 | 1,701 | October 5, 2026 |
Rating breakdown: ★5 991 / ★4 489 / ★3 112 / ★2 41 / ★1 68 (as shown on Rakuten Ichiba, accessed October 5, 2026)
What we read: the first 60 reviews in the default order (posted from October 2025 to August 2026, the latest in August 2026), 30 reviews filtered to ★1 (out of 68; posted from March 2025 to September 2026), and 30 reviews filtered to ★2 (out of 41; posted from July 2023 to April 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 58% (991 of 1,701), and ★1 and ★2 together total 109 (about 6%). Most of the 60 default-order reviews were from people who chose the thick-cut, with only a few about the thin-sliced. The review section also includes posts about options not on the current application page (with offal, 1.2kg, subscription delivery, etc.). Posts that read as written before eating were excluded from the counts by topic.
What Reviewers Praise
Thickness and heartiness
33 of the 60 default-order reviews said it was thick and filling (all posted in the last two years). Most were from people who chose the thick-cut.
Amount and individual packs
14 of the 60 default-order reviews said the amount was large or generous. 5 also said it is divided into packs or that the flat packaging is easy to store.
Tenderness and ease of eating
14 of the 60 default-order reviews said it was tender or that the scored cuts made it easy to bite through.
Repeat donations
9 of the 60 default-order reviews said they apply every year or will order again.
Source: Rakuten reviews (みんなのレビュー) (accessed October 5, 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 1,701 reviews.
Toughness / hard to bite through
26 of the 60 ★1 and ★2 reviews (19 of them posted in the last two years) said it was tough because of sinew or thickness, or could not be bitten through. Comments about the thick-cut stood out. On the other hand, 14 of the 60 default-order reviews said it was tender, so opinions are divided.
How to check: the descriptions of thickness and cuts are summarized in “Choices that change what arrives” in this article’s “Basic Information” and in “Cuts (as Described on the Application Page).”
Odor / gamey smell
20 of the 60 ★1 and ★2 reviews (14 of them posted in the last two years) said they noticed an odor or gamey smell.
How to check: how to thaw is summarized in the “How to thaw” row of this article’s “Basic Information.” We found no specific instructions on the application page.
The beef tongue being imported
4 of the 60 ★1 and ★2 reviews (1 of them posted in the last two years) said they were surprised to learn after delivery that the beef tongue was imported, or that they had not checked the origin. Posts that mention a country are individual comments, and the application page does not state the country, so this article does not treat them as fact.
How to check: the origin of the ingredients is given in this article’s lead and in the “Origin of ingredients” row of “Basic Information.”
Source: Rakuten reviews (みんなのレビュー) (accessed October 5, 2026)
Who It Suits / Who Should Be Careful
Who It Suits
- People who want to choose between thick-cut (about 7–8mm) and thin-sliced (about 1.5–2mm) by thickness and flavor, and compare them
- People who want to choose the amount in 500g packs
- People who are fine with a thank-you gift that arrives frozen
- People who understand that it is sold as “wakeari” because the shape and thickness are uneven
Who Should Be Careful
- People who want to confirm that the beef tongue is imported before deciding (country not confirmed)
- People concerned about toughness or odor in meat (often pointed out within the ★1 and ★2 reviews we read)
- People with allergy concerns (no breakdown by flavor is given)
- People who want to give it as a gift with noshi, wrapping, or a message card (not confirmed)
- 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
- You choose the thickness (thick-cut / thin-sliced), flavor, quantity (500g–2kg), and shipping time. It is stored frozen (−18°C or below), and the best-before is stated as 180 days. The beef tongue is imported, and the country is not confirmed
- How to thaw, shelf life after thawing, and noshi, wrapping, and message cards are not confirmed. The allergen labeling lists 8 items, with no breakdown by flavor
- Among the 60 default-order reviews, many mention the thickness and heartiness, while among the 60 ★1 and ★2 reviews we read, posts mentioning toughness (26) and odor (20) stand out
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 5, 2026 / Sources: Rakuten Furusato Nozei application page for Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture; 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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