Advertisements promoting US meat do not feature cows or pigs prominently in the ads. The Japan ad campaign features friendly farmers and happy families with few images of cattle or hogs. One US Meat Export Federation advertisement on a Tokyo train depicts a man – a farmer – standing among crops in a field. There are no cows in the picture. Where’s the beef? Another USMEF ad seen on a train depicts a young male farmer holding a little boy. Some cattle can be seen in the distance behind the farmer.

The Japanese website has beef-safety information, recipes, pages for kids, and instructions for making meat origami.

In 2004 Japan banned U.S. beef imports for the first time after a case of was confirmed in Washington state in 2003. The Japanese government lifted the beef ban in December 2005. In January 2006 the Japanese government banned imports of US beef again, then lifted that embargo in July 2007.  In December 2008 Japan banned imports of beef from a Wisconsin meat-packing plant because non-certified beef products were discovered in a shipment.

Japan, once the largest importer of US beef, is now the third-largest buyer of U.S. beef.

A US meat industry publication stated in a December 2008 report "U.S. pork continues its reign as the king of imported pork in Japan." The data shows Japan accounts for 31 percent of the total value of U.S. pork exports.

The USMEF American Meat promotion campaign is funded by U.S. beef and pork producers.

Japan’s Crown Princess Masako joined other members of the royal family to wave to crowds gathered at the Imperial Palace as Japan Emperor Akihito offered his annual New Year’s greetings on Jan. 2, 2009.

Princess Masako has suffered from depression for several years and has rarely appeared in public. In December 2008, it was reported Masako’s health is improving and she feels more able to participate in social events.

The stiff Masako robotic-wave caught the attention of the Lets Japan investigative team. After enhancing the public photos, we noticed what appears to be wiring and electronics protruding from the right arm of "Masako".
We were then able to secure an exclusive photo taken from behind the royal family as they stood on the balcony at the Imperial Palace.

This photo seems to indicate an advanced robot replacement developed by skilled Japanese technicians was used for the New Year’s event. Perhaps Masako is still feeling unwell.