TAJIMA (TAJIRI)
The Kumanami family is known to have extremely potent marbling genes. (There are three key families in the Tajima line: Nakadoi, Okudoi and Kumanami.)
The Tajiri or Tajima line originated from the Hyogo prefecture. These black cattle were originally used to pull carts and ploughs so they developed larger forequarters and lighter hindquarters. They are generally smaller framed with slower growth rates, but produce excellent meat quality with large eye muscle and superior marbling. The Tajima bloodlines, it is said, is the most appropriate to use for the improvement of meat quality and generally regarded as producing the best quality meat in all of Japan.

FUJIYOSHI – (SHIMANE)
The Fujiyoshi (or Shimane) line originates from Okayama Prefecture in Japan. These cattle are known for large frames, their average growth rates and meat quality, and quiet temperament. Shimane bulls tend to pass on genetics indicating a large body size, and often produce progeny with large framed carcasses. The most famous bull in this line is Dai 7 Itozakura, perhaps the most famous bull in Japan, whose picture was printed on a Japanese phone card. Some of his most famous progeny include: Kikuhana, Itohana, Itomichi and Kitaguni 7/8

KEDAKA (TOTTORI)
The Kedaka (or Tottori) line originates from Tottori Prefecture in Japan. These cattle were pack animals in the grain industry and so tend to be larger animals with straight, strong backlines and generally good growth rates. Other characteristics include good growth, larger frame, and a high level of fertility. They are known for their fine, loose skin. The Kedaka line was formed from descendants of the sire Kedaka, born in 1959. Dai 20 Hirashige is an important sire of the Kedaka line

Tajiri (Tajima) cattle are descendents of Tijiri, a sire born in Mikata District of the Hyogo Prefecture. This is a large, influential sire-line to which almost all strains within the Hyogo Prefecture are related. The Tajiri line has outstanding genetic excellence with finely marbled beef in combination with a smaller frame and lower growth rates.

This line is renowned for good temperament, demonstrated in a large number of sires as well as cows. Famous are the names Kobe Beef and Matsuzaka Beef, from herds produced in Hyogo Prefecture using Tajiri bloodlines.

Fujiyoshi (Shimane) is a line of well-balanced cattle that produce calves with good growth rates and meat quality. They also have a quiet temperament and exhibit a strong maternal ability in dams, which consequently also have high fertility rates. The bloodline started in the Tomada district of the Okayama Prefecture.

While the number of key sires is relatively small compared to other lines, the Fujiyoshi line is listed as a major bull strain because of its excellent beef. Dai 7 Itozakura is a Fujiyoshi line bull, probably the most famous of the line.

Kedaka (Tottori) - this line formed in the Tottori Prefecture from the descendants of the sire Kedaka born in 1959. Typical characteristics of the line include good growth, larger frame type, good topline and overall balance. They are known for their fine, loose skin Dai 20 Hirashige is an important sire of the Kedaka line. His semen is still used although the price per straw is over US $1,000. he gained 84.7 points as an "Ikushu-Taroku" bull which was the highest honor in Japan of the time. The number of registered sons of this bull is very high.

Kochi and Kumamoto - these are red strains, and have been strongly influenced by Korean and European breeds, especially Simmental.