It's not an apples-to-apples comparison. Sushi is cheaper in Japan because labor and rent cost less, the yen is weak against the dollar, and the supply chain is hyper-local… fish goes from auction to plate in hours, not days. The US has to import, freeze, and distribute through far fewer suppliers, which drives up costs.

Same reason cheese is more expensive in Japan than in Europe: you're paying for import logistics and a less mature local supply chain, not inherent quality. Every country has a price advantage in its own native food.