From Japan to Bengaluru: My Entrepreneurial Journey

Since my youth, entrepreneurship has been my passion. I left university before completing my final year to initiate a web marketing company in Japan. After selling it, I ventured into real estate, launching a co-living space business. Yet, it was in 2018 that I made a significant move to Kenya — a country I once explored during my college days — aiming to establish another startup.

The initial year in Kenya was beyond challenging. Despite my track record of founding and selling various companies, attracting investors for a new venture was demanding. Resolving to invest my own resources, I introduced Hakki, a microfinancing system for car buyers. Kenya's credit landscape showed a notable gap, which I aimed to fill.

Over six years, Hakki facilitated financing for over 3,500 vehicles. However, Kenya's market size limited further expansion. With Africa holding about 1.4 billion people dispersed across the continent, and Kenya making up just 50 million, India represented an enticing opportunity with its 1.3 billion people and rapidly advancing economy.

Embracing Bengaluru Life

In 2024, I relocated to Bengaluru to extend our business footprint in India. The company now employs four staff in India, 74 in Kenya, and two in South Africa. While our main office is in Japan, where we focus on fundraising, we aim to launch public trading in Tokyo by 2028.

Bengaluru has grown on me for several reasons. I prefer wearing casual clothes like T-shirts over formal suits, and the city's consistent and comfortable climate suits this preference well.

I find that people here are not only welcoming but are also bursting with enthusiasm and optimism about the future. This contrasts with Japan, where an aging population often leads to concerns about economic stability.

I've joined a group that plays football post-work and made friends with whom I enjoy watching cricket, accompanied by drinks and dishes like chicken. This was unexpected, as I previously assumed the majority of Indians were vegetarian.

Navigating Cultural Differences

Adjusting to the food has been a challenge as I'm still not fond of spicy cuisine. Consequently, I frequently resort to eating the noodles I bring from Japan.

Business practices in India are starkly different from those in Japan. In India, there's a willingness to attempt new ventures without a complete picture, whereas Japanese companies often dwell on decisions to reach a majority agreement. In India, investment processes are notably more expedited.

Startups find a supportive environment in India. The market doesn't shy away from new brands and is open to innovations, even when they come at a lower price point compared to established products.

I've been pleasantly surprised by the dedication of our local staff. The four employees in India, for instance, frequently work from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The company's driver is also available from dawn until late into the night, a devotion I had not anticipated.

In the coming months, I might transition out of India temporarily to pursue business opportunities in nations like Thailand. Nevertheless, my commitment to solidifying our presence in the Indian market remains. Moving back to India eventually seems quite probable as I continue making trips back and forth.