Last time I was in the Old Homestead restaurant, my date and I had an @11.50 steak for two. Of course, that was 50 years ago and it was not Kobe beef. It's likely the Kobe beef tastes better than the grass fed 'stuff' that's all the rage today in the USA. These days $35 per pound, home cooked and $75 in a restaurant is my limit.
Quote from article:
"There are rumors that some farms massage the cattle or feed them beer but these are not common practices and do not improve the quality of the meat, according to the Kobe Beef Marketing and Distribution Promotion Association."
I used to hear that during the 60's when I lived in Japan. Perhaps it was common practice back then?