The Japanese fishing industry landed a big win two weeks ago when it persuaded other maritime nations to nix a trading ban on Atlantic bluefin tuna. The fish is so prized in Japan that it’s dubbed "true" tuna.
Inside Japan however, the trend that’s causing buzz is quite the opposite – fish consumption has been steadily declining due to changes in lifestyle and demographics.
Many children would rather eat spaghetti than squid sashimi or stewed sole. And that isn’t an unwelcome change for working parents who appreciate the convenience. The growing ranks of elderly people fearful about choking on sharp bones causes some of them to avoid grilled fish. A sluggish economy has also hurt sales since fish is often more expensive than meat.
(Source: The Wall Street Journal Online)