Japan's nuclear troubles extend into Russia
| Vladivostok, Russia
鈥� A local, slice-of-life story from a Monitor correspondent.
The Zelyony Ugol (Green Corner) used-car market, on the outskirts of Vladivostok, is among the largest of its kind in Russia. In vast gravel lots, all manner of vehicles 鈥� from rosy-pink Honda hatchbacks to gold-tinted Lexus roadsters 鈥� sit in neat rows, prices scrawled across their windshields in white.
Car imports have long been the lifeblood of this port city. At one point, 1 in 3 of the city鈥檚 residents was somehow involved in the auto business, and the industry has weathered many challenges. In 2008, a sharp hike in car import taxes brought out thousands in protest onto city streets.
Once again, the city鈥檚 used-car dealers are toughing it out. Japan鈥檚 recent earthquake and tsunami have cast a pall over the business, which relies on used cars shipped from Japanese suppliers. Natalya, a car dealer at the Green Corner who declined to give her last name, said the tsunami that ravaged Japan鈥檚 east coast in March had simply 鈥渨ashed away鈥� many car lots. Radiation from the Fukushima nuclear power plant has contaminated others.
In mid-April, customs officers at Vladi-vostok鈥檚 port impounded a shipment of used Japanese cars after detecting elevated levels of radiation from the vehicles. It鈥檚 unclear how or when they could be decontaminated. 鈥淔rom day to day, the car parks in Japan are shrinking in size,鈥� Natalya said, shrugging her shoulders, as if resigned to perennial uncertainty. 鈥淧eople now are buying cars, but they don鈥檛 know if these cars will come or not.鈥�
