This is a bit of a rumor as the truth isn't known for sure, but supposedly sushi as we know it today also started in Canada. Rolled raw fish was a thing for a while, but putting rice on the outside may have started in Canada.
From Wikipedia:
"Although the true origin is disputed, it's widely believed that Chef Hidekazu invented the California roll (originally called "Tojo-maki") in Vancouver, by inverting the roll and putting rice on the outside to make it more accessible to Western tastes, and adding non-traditional ingredients like avocado."
Putting rice on the outside started in China long before the modern day, they used to just toss it though as it was the disgusting fishy garbage that was there to absorb fish juice while it sat