TRADE

Japan Allows Import of Sushi Samples: The Japanese government has ruled that the Sushi Boy fast food chain, which operates 44 sushi restaurants with cut-rate prices, could import 1,000 samples of California-made sushi. The sushi arrived Wednesday but languished in a refrigerator while the Farm Ministry and customs officials debated whether the shipment violated Japan’s ban on imported rice. The government said Saturday that since more than 20% of the sushi--a slice of raw fish on a bed of vinegared rice--was fish, it would be classified as a processed rice product and could be imported. However, the government may face another challenge from Sushi Boy. The company said it plans to import frozen yakiniku donburi --bowls of rice topped with grilled beef--made of American beef and California rice.