Jan 14, 2026
International Japanese food trends
During a visit to my hometown, Vancouver, I was impressed by the abundance of Japanese eateries. My relatives suggested that we visit a sushi restaurant in the South Granville neighbourhood with its many boutiques and restaurants. They raved about the sushi at a particular shop.
As I tucked into some beautifully presented makizushi, I was disappointed. The non-Japanese staff were doing their best, but they didn't understand the essentials - sushi rice. The fresh fish was delectable, and the rice was beautifully fluffy, but the flavour was a big miss. The cooks, despite their best efforts, didn't understand the ratios of vinegar, sugar, and salt that go into classic sushi.
Canadian sushi, ramen, and teppan yaki shops have endured. For the most part, they get the formula right - price, presentation, and authentic flavours. Canadian Japanese food fans expect the genuine article.
Recently, the 農林水産省, Norinsuisansho, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries reported on the number of Japanese food restaurants abroad. According to their research, the number has fallen off in many markets.
What has happened? Of course, global changes in tourism, as some countries have ehem, discouraged travel to Japan. However, beyond that, inbound visitors have likely experienced great food in Japan. Assential, a brand advisory organization, has a synopsis of the global Japanese restaurant situation. In the Americas, Europe, and Africa, Japanese food restaurants have seen an increase, while in Asia, they experienced a significant decrease.
On your visits abroad, did you try Japanese food? Was it authentic or not quite right?
2 Comments
BigfamJapan
4 hours ago
There has been such a huge increase in international tourists in Japan in recent years, I often wonder if, after trying the "real deal" here in Japan, are they put off the Japanese restaurants in their home country? There is a huge gap. Like Canada, Ireland has a couple of really top notch Japanese restaurants that do it right, but the vast majority of them, that are just trying to cash in on the Japanese boom, fail miserably.
TonetoEdo
4 hours ago
@BigfamJapan Oh, yikes. So, you've had mediocre or inauthentic food in Ireland? As I mentioned in my blog, I was sorely disappointed by the inadequately prepared sushi rice at one Vancouver sushi restaurant. However, many restaurants get it right. I get the impression that "fake" Japanese food has fallen off because diners who've visited Japan know what the real deal is.