The first voyage of this year’s Wakkanai-Russia-Sakhalin cargo ship charter project being undertaken by the ‘Wakkanai-Korsakov Regular Route Usage Promotion Council’ made up of local governments and economic organizations in northern Hokkaido, has arrived at the port of Wakkanai.

Officials from the City and Hokkaido governments looked on as the approximate 500-ton MATSUSHIMA vessel docked at the port’s International Passenger Terminal at 9 a.m. on July 29, and several cardboard boxes were unloaded from the ship. Many could be seen taking photos and displaying interest in the boxes, which were attached with slips completed in Sakhalin, and contained approximately 100 kg of folk crafts such as matryoshka dolls and ‘Khokhloma lacquerware’ similar to Japanese lacquerware.

This trial project aims to expand imports, of which the charter business has almost no track record, and hopes to re-examine the times and costs of customs clearance. The goods imported this time were done so with the cooperation of the Wakkanai Association of Japan-Russia Economic Exchange, and are scheduled to be sold and displayed in the city. Meanwhile, approximately 2.4 tons of foodstuffs, including rice and soy sauce will be exported and sold in the supermarkets of Sakhalin.