Wagyu is a breed name. Domestic beef simply means cattle raised in Japan. They sound similar but describe different things, and knowing that makes menus much easier to read.
Wagyu means four breeds
Only four breeds, Japanese Black, Japanese Brown, Japanese Shorthorn and Japanese Polled, and their crosses may be called Wagyu. Because it is defined by breed, where the animal was raised does not make it Wagyu.
Domestic beef is about where, not what
Domestic beef covers any cattle spending most of their life in Japan, regardless of breed. It therefore includes Wagyu as well as dairy and crossbred cattle.
Reading a label
Treat Wagyu as a statement about breed and domestic as a statement about origin. When a brand name such as Kobe Beef appears, breed, origin and a certification standard have all been met.
FAQ
Q. Is domestic beef lower quality than Wagyu?
A. It is not a question of higher or lower. The two words describe different things: origin and breed.
Q. Can Wagyu come from anywhere in Japan?
A. Yes, since Wagyu is a breed name. Origin is fixed only for brands such as Kobe Beef.
At Wagyu Steak HIRO we serve wagyu, and Kobe beef selected from within it. See the lunch menu.