September 15, 2013

Why is This Cab Glowing?


Why is This Cab Glowing?

Vladivostok, a remote city in the Russian Far East, is notorious for the many used Japanese cars on its roads, which are possibly the worst in the country. Despite government campaigns against the right-hand-steering vehicles, locals continue to find ways to bypass the state's initiatives.

Vladivostok streets, by Núria Alonso, August 2008, CC 2.0.

Vladivostok streets, by Núria Alonso, August 2008, CC 2.0.

Many Internet users in Vladivostok have remained adamant that even older Japanese cars are superior to the models now coming off assembly lines in Russia. Some netizens describe owning a Russian car as a social faux pas. As one commenter on the Russian Far East news portal Deita.ru wrote:

увы, даже японки собираемые не в Японии как бы это помягче сказать … xpeнового качества. Опять же если сравнивать с праворульной машиной сделаной япами и для япов. Увы … не могут они взять и перенести свой подход к труду на чужую землю без потерь.

Sadly, even the Japanese [cars] not assembled in Japan are, to put it mildly … of s**tty quality. Again, when compared with right-hand-steering cars made by the Japanese for the Japanese. Sadly … they cannot take and implement their approach to work abroad without a loss [in quality].

Japanese cars en route to Vladivostok, damaged in a storm, 21 October 2012, screen capture from YouTube.

Japanese cars en route to Vladivostok, damaged in a storm, 21 October 2012. 
(Screen capture from YouTube.)

After a deadly tsunami hit Japan in 2011, followed by the nuclear tragedy in Fukushima, the port of Vladivostok received a number of radioactive cars. Two years later, radioactive car parts are still arriving in Russia. Outrageously, Russian customs authorities have had to detain and send back to Japan over 930 radioactive cars since 2011.

Confronted with such problems, Vladivostok residents have gone online to swap stories and ask advice  [ru] about the stream of toxic Japanese motor vehicles. Web user Damir Gaifullin appealed to one forum in the following words:

Ребят, подскажите, кто-нибудь сталкивался с радиоактивными автомобилями из Японии? Как-то например – выбрал машину на аукционе, а она оказалась радиоактивной и отсюда начались проблемы.

Guys, tell me, has anyone had to deal with radioactive cars from Japan? Maybe someone got a car at an auction and it turned out to be radioactive, and all his problems started here?

Some people responding to Gaifullin suggested shopping in auctions farther from Fukusima, in order to avoid any potential contamination. Others argue that measuring the level of radiation before cars leave Japan is a better approach. Unfortunately, it is apparently very difficult for Russians buying cars at auctions in Japan to run comprehensive background checks on vehicles, before purchasing.


This article by Masha Egupova was originally published by Global Voices Online, a website that translates and reports on blogs from around the world.

 
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

The Moscow Eccentric
December 01, 2016

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.

A Taste of Russia
November 01, 2012

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.

Jews in Service to the Tsar
October 09, 2011

Jews in Service to the Tsar

Benjamin Disraeli advised, “Read no history: nothing but biography, for that is life without theory.” With Jews in Service to the Tsar, Lev Berdnikov offers us 28 biographies spanning five centuries of Russian Jewish history, and each portrait opens a new window onto the history of Eastern Europe’s Jews, illuminating dark corners and challenging widely-held conceptions about the role of Jews in Russian history.

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas
October 01, 2013

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.

 
Fearful Majesty
July 01, 2014

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.

The Latchkey Murders
July 01, 2015

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka
November 01, 2012

Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka

In this comprehensive, quixotic and addictive book, Edwin Trommelen explores all facets of the Russian obsession with vodka. Peering chiefly through the lenses of history and literature, Trommelen offers up an appropriately complex, rich and bittersweet portrait, based on great respect for Russian culture.

About Us

Russian Life is the 31-year-old publication of an award-winning publishing house that also creates books, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955