alt Hacker NewsCalrose is perfectly fine if you are looking for japanese grown rice replacement in the US. Same 'Oryza sativa subsp. japonica', just a different cultivar. It's the closest thing to Koshihikari but cheaper and widely available. Actually I'd say it's the best overall rice you can get not grown in Japan.
Good side by side https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/Koshihik...
The "problem" is that you won't find rice like Yumepirika, Akitakomachi, Tsuyahime, or Nanatsuboshi (just a few example of my favorites) anywhere outside of Japan. Even Italy has japonica rice fields but it's a different class all together.
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Calrose is quite different than most Japanese rice, since it's a medium grain. If you've grown up eating rice in Japan, it's instantly noticeable. You can buy California grown Koshihikari now on Amazon, which is a much better substitute.
Akitakomachi is grown in California. It's what Lundberg Sushi Rice is.
Calrose is medium-grain, but Koshihikari itself is grown in California as is a short-grain hybrid with Calrose called Calhikari. Sasanishiki is also being grown.
Ive seen US grown hitomebore and koshihikari, the koshihikari even under the same brand as the Japaneses rice just with a product of USA label