Why Japan bought broken bottles from the USSR – a hoax that was not immediately revealed

In the Soviet Union, and then in Russia, there was a legend: they say that Japan bought huge volumes from the USSR … broken bottles, which they then simply threw into the sea. Why – this is not clear, but our country got rich from this strange affair, and the Japanese are fools!

But in this story, all is not so clear. In fact, the Japanese have outmaneuvered us.

In the 70s, the Japanese really offered the Soviet Union to make a deal: it was about the sale of broken glass, of which the USSR had a lot. In our country, they weighed everything and considered the offer super profitable, so they immediately agreed.

Imagine the surprise when the Japanese, having barely received broken bottles, immediately threw them into the open sea. Calm down: this method is considered the cheapest and most environmentally friendly way to recycle glass. Moreover, millions of fragments polished by the water are still thrown on the ground.

It turned out that the Japanese were not interested in broken bottles, but … in the packaging in which they were delivered to the country. The fact is that official glass products were packed in cedar boxes made to last by Soviet workers.

Strong and durable material in Japan was worth its weight in gold. They desperately needed wood, but they failed to conclude a corresponding agreement with the USSR – they did not agree on a price. It was then that the Japanese decided to go into a ruse and obtain the materials they needed through a circuitous route.

After receiving supplies and disposing of broken bottles, the cedar boxes were dismantled into planks and then used to make furniture. So, how are you. Surprised?

Read also: Surprising facts about the movie “Love and Doves”, which they wanted to ban in the USSR