While most of China still prefers their fish whole and cooked, sushi has taken hold in the upscale eateries in China’s major cities which spells big trouble for little Japan. One would assume that a Chinese interest in sushi would be good for Japan, since a Chinese interest in any Japanese export is ostensibly a good thing. It’s not that simple. According to a Guardian story Tuesday, a shortage of blue fin tuna in Japan’s waters and China’s growing trade surplus have created a sushi crisis for Japan. Prices for certain pieces have skyrocketed and Japan’s fish buyers can no longer compete with Shanghai and Beijing’s high-class chefs buying up the fish at higher prices. As a fisheries-trade official told the Guardian, “The Chinese are going to pay more than what the Japanese can pay very soon. That means exporters will be looking into the China market, not Japan. Five years from now, Japanese consumers will not be able to eat good-quality sashimi. You’ll have to go to China to do that.” Weird. Because as a sushi-lover living in China’s most posh city, there’s nothing good-quality about the sashimi here. While I feel sorry for Japan, the world’s sushi capital, China needs some of that high-grade Japanese fish.

•Guardian: Sushi in Crisis

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