With Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. President Donald Trump having reached a final agreement on Sept. 26 to conclude a trade pact to lower tariffs on American beef and pork, Okinawa Prefecture's livestock industry has been increasingly concerned about competition intensifying when the cheap U.S. imports begin.
Some pork producers worry that consumers may prefer American beef to Okinawan pork for their overall meat consumption, taking a bite out of their sales.
On the other hand, local restaurants welcome the move, saying they will be able to offer cheap, less fatty but more richly flavored U.S. beef.