TOKYO, December 7. /TASS/. It will be difficult for Japanese car manufacturers to return to the Russian market after leaving, partly because the empty segments are already occupied by competitors, Russia's new trade representative in Tokyo Natalya Stapran said in an interview with TASS.

"It is apparent that trust in Japanese automakers has been considerably eroded - the longer Japanese automakers remain absent from the Russian market, the more work will be required to return. Competitors quickly take over the vacated niches. Now we are primarily witnessing losses and harm to Japanese automakers," she said.

Stapran pointed out that "the share of Japanese manufacturers in the Russian market has always been quite large." "The Russian market was also quite appealing to Japan, due to the high margins and growth prospects," she added.