A5 Miyazaki wagyu vs Australian wagyu, explained
How Japan grades A5, how Australian M9+ compares, and how to taste both side by side at Izakaya Miyazaki.
A5 Miyazaki wagyu is Japanese wagyu from Miyazaki Prefecture that has been graded A5, the highest grade of Japanese wagyu. At Izakaya Miyazaki in Melbourne CBD, we serve it as nigiri, as a chargrilled sirloin steak, or in our shabu shabu or sukiyaki set, a hot pot simmered at your table. We also serve Australian M9+ wagyu, and this guide explains how the two differ.
Origin 日本産
A5 Miyazaki wagyu is a Product of Japan, from Miyazaki Prefecture.
Grade A5
A5, the highest grade of Japanese wagyu.
How we serve it 料理
As nigiri, as a chargrilled sirloin steak, or in our shabu shabu or sukiyaki set.
Where 場所
Basement, 114 Russell St, on the corner of Little Collins Street.
What does A5 mean on wagyu?
A5 is a two-part grade under the Japan Meat Grading Association standard: the letter scores yield and the number scores meat quality. Japanese beef is graded in 15 stages, combining a yield grade from A to C with a quality grade from 5 to 1.
Yield 歩留
A72 or moreThe letter. Grade A is the top of the three yield grades.
Quality 肉質
5top scoreThe number, judged on marbling, the brightness of the meat, its firmness and texture, and the brightness and quality of the fat.
The quality grade is the lowest of the four factor scores, so to be graded 5, beef must score 5 on all four. Japan grades the carcass, not the cut. Two cuts from the same A5 animal can eat very differently, which is why the cut matters when you order.
Sources: Japan Meat Information Service Center, About Meat Beef Grading, on the Japan Meat Grading Association standard; Japan Meat Grading Association, Beef Carcass Grading Standard; both read 11/11/2026.
How do A4, A5 and the marbling score relate?
A4 and A5 differ in the quality number. Marbling is scored on the Beef Marbling Standard, from No. 1 to No. 12: grade 5 covers No. 8 to No. 12, described as "very abundant", and grade 4 covers No. 5 to No. 7.
Source: About Meat Beef Grading, read 11/11/2026.
How is Japanese A5 wagyu different from Australian M9+ wagyu?
Japanese A5 wagyu and Australian M9+ wagyu come from different countries and are graded under different systems, but the top Australian scores can carry as much marbling as A5. Meat & Livestock Australia says Australian marbling grades are assigned in a way very similar to the Japanese Beef Marbling Standard, and that wagyu graded MB8, MB9 or MB9+ "can have an equivalent amount of marbling to beef graded A5".
- The Australian scale. In Australia, an AUS-MEAT qualified grader scores marbling from 0 to 9+. "M9+" on our menu means a marble score of 9+, the top of that scale.
- Wagyu genetics. Beef needs at least 50% Wagyu genetics to be labelled and exported as wagyu in Australia, and "fullblood" means all of the animal's genetics come from the Japan-derived Wagyu breed.
- Our weekday steak. The steak in our $88 weekday set is M9+ Sher Wagyu Blue Label, an Australian fullblood wagyu. Sher packs its fullblood beef under the Blue Label.
The difference shows on the plate. A5 Miyazaki wagyu is rich yet clean, buttery and melts on the tongue. The M9+ is a steak full of flavour, with a beefier bite.
| A5 Miyazaki wagyu | Australian M9+ wagyu | |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Product of Japan, from Miyazaki Prefecture | Australia |
| Grading system | Japan Meat Grading Association: yield A to C, quality 5 to 1 | AUS-MEAT marble score, 0 to 9+ |
| Top marbling band | BMS No. 8 to No. 12 for grade 5 | 9+ |
| How we serve it | Nigiri, chargrilled sirloin, shabu shabu or sukiyaki set | Nigiri, chargrilled sirloin, the shabu shabu or sukiyaki set, and the steak in our weekday set |
Because we serve both as nigiri and as a chargrilled sirloin, you can taste them side by side. Our menu also lists a Deluxe Nigiri Platter with one piece of each.
$88 Weekday Special. The M9+ Sher Wagyu Blue Label Chuck Eye Steak is the main of our $88 Weekday Special Set Menu, per person, Monday to Thursday dinner. See $88 Weekday Special Set Menu, Melbourne CBD.
Sources: Meat & Livestock Australia, Wagyu 101: A Guide to the Terminology, Grades and Standards; Australian Wagyu Association, Wagyu Beef Grade and Marbling Score; Sher Wagyu, Sher Wagyu Products & Labels; all read 11/11/2026.
Where Miyazaki wagyu comes from
Miyazaki Prefecture is on the island of Kyushu in southern Japan, and it is one of Japan's most celebrated wagyu regions. In 2022, Miyazaki won the Prime Minister's Award at Japan's National Competitive Exhibition of Wagyu for the fourth consecutive time.
Source: Miyazaki Wagyu Council, 12th National Competitive Exhibition of Wagyu Results, read 11/11/2026.
"Miyazaki" on its own names the prefecture and its wagyu; Izakaya Miyazaki is the restaurant, in the basement at 114 Russell St.
The food was excellent, especially the Japanese wagyu, which was truly on par with the quality I had in Japan. The selection of sake was also very complete.Calvin S., Google review, August 2025
How we serve A5 Miyazaki wagyu at Izakaya Miyazaki
Our chefs make the nigiri and chargrill the sirloin. Shabu shabu is a Japanese hot pot simmered at your table: you dip thin slices of wagyu briefly in the broth yourself. The Shabu Shabu or Sukiyaki Set serves 2 to 4 people and includes A5 wagyu sirloin, assorted A5 wagyu cuts and M9+ fullblood wagyu, so the table tastes both.
The wagyu hotpot was melt in your mouth and the ambiance was on point.Michelle A., Google review, September 2026
Each cut suits a different preparation. Rib eye and sirloin are highly marbled and suit a steak or shabu shabu. Topside and bottomside are leaner and are best sliced thin for shabu shabu. The eye fillet is prized for its tenderness and delicate flavour. Chuck roll is juicier and more flavour-forward, with a satisfying chew; you will find it among the assorted A5 cuts in our shabu shabu or sukiyaki set, and chargrilled as a steak. Every cut we serve is on Authentic A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Melbourne CBD, and the full list of dishes is on Japanese Restaurant Menu, Melbourne CBD.
Ask our team for a sake to match the wagyu. Our list runs to over 100 sake varieties, and the regions behind it are on Sake Bar in Melbourne CBD.
You will find Izakaya Miyazaki in the basement at 114 Russell St, Melbourne CBD, on the corner of Little Collins Street. Look for the large sign with our logo on the door, then take the stairs down.
FAQ
What are the key differences between A4 and A5 wagyu?
The difference is the quality number: A5 carries the top quality score and A4 the next one down. For marbling, grade 5 covers No. 8 to No. 12 on the Beef Marbling Standard and grade 4 covers No. 5 to No. 7.
Is M9+ wagyu the same as A5?
No. M9+ is an Australian marble score on the AUS-MEAT scale of 0 to 9+, and A5 is a Japanese grade for yield and quality. The top Australian scores can carry an equivalent amount of marbling to A5, but the origin, the grading system and the eating experience differ.
Is every A5 cut equally tender?
No, each A5 cut keeps its own texture: the eye fillet is prized for tenderness, and topside is leaner and best sliced thin.
Where can you eat A5 Miyazaki wagyu in Melbourne?
You can eat A5 Miyazaki wagyu in Melbourne CBD at Izakaya Miyazaki, Basement, 114 Russell St, on the corner of Little Collins Street. Look for the large sign with our logo on the door, then take the stairs down.
Good to know
- With notice, we can prepare vegetarian, gluten-free, nut-free, shellfish-free and dairy-free options. Our menu is pork-free, but our meat is not halal certified. Some dishes are cooked with sake. Please tell us about any allergies or dietary needs when you book.
- Our menu changes with the seasons, so dishes may vary.
- We serve alcohol responsibly under Victorian liquor laws and may ask for photo ID.
Taste A5 beneath Russell Street
We serve A5 Miyazaki wagyu at dinner every night and at lunch Friday to Sunday, 12pm to 3pm. To see every cut we serve, visit our A5 wagyu page, then book a table online.
