Michal Small has been waiting eagerly for the return of U.S. beef to Japan, but it seems the American will have to wait a while longer before the Roppongi Hills restaurants she frequents start serving the fare again.

"I think American beef is absolutely safe. And now is the best time to buy it because there's so much scrutiny," said Small, who lives in Tokyo's Minami-Azabu district and comes from a family in Oklahoma that raises cattle for consumption by them and their friends.

But while Small may be eager to bite into a thick U.S. steak, the Japanese public's mistrust stemming from the risk of mad cow disease doesn't appear to be waning.