AFAIK is red meat not causing cancer per se. While there has been a correlation between red meat intake and colon cancer shown, the studies that have shown this didn't differentiate between highly processed products made out of red meat (think of sausage) and rather natural meat (think of steak) itself. The processed stuff is packed with all kinds of sugar, preservatives, flavor enhancer and colouration which might be the cause for the higher rates of colon cancer. To my knowledge these highly processed meat products are not common in Japan.