Data from Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications shows that per capita retail sales of pork (excluding preserved products) amounted to 7.6 kg in both 2023 and 2024. While prices rose by 2% last year, consumers adapted by shifting to more affordable cuts without reducing overall consumption.
The HoReCa sector (hotels, restaurants, and catering) has also leaned further into pork. Chinese restaurants in particular—many of which feature pork-based menus—saw an 11% increase in sales in 2024, along with a 6% rise in customer numbers, outperforming the sector’s average growth rate of 4%.
Thanks to its affordability, versatility, and continued popularity in food service, pork maintains a key role in Japanese consumption patterns, even under economic strain.
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