Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu said he will travel to Japan to explore partnerships with small and mid-sized companies, with the goal of connecting them to opportunities in small towns and rural parts of India.
“I am heading to Japan tomorrow. The agenda is to partner with small to mid-sized companies in small-town Japan and bring them to small-town and rural India,” Vembu wrote.
Focus on Traditional Craftsmanship
Vembu said the initiative is inspired by a deeper commitment to preserving and reviving traditional craftsmanship. He referred to the concept using the Tamil word “Aasaari” and the Sanskrit term “Vishwakarma,” highlighting skilled artisanal traditions.
He noted that many smaller Japanese firms continue to uphold these values, building strong capabilities in precision manufacturing and other highly specialised sectors. According to him, Japan remains a global leader in industries that depend on intricate craftsmanship and technical mastery.
Inspired by a Long-Time Associate
Vembu said the effort is being guided in part by his friend Britto, originally from Madurai, who spent many years in Japan and developed a strong understanding of its business culture. Britto later founded Takumi Motion Controls.
The Zoho chief pointed out that the Japanese word “Takumi” means craftsman, reflecting a shared respect for skilled manufacturing traditions. He said their shared admiration for Japanese craftsmanship has evolved into a joint mission.
Aligned with Rural-First Philosophy
The Japan initiative fits into Vembu’s long-standing belief in decentralised development and rural empowerment. He has consistently argued that world-class innovation and technology can be built outside major urban centres, with Zoho itself expanding operations in smaller towns and villages.
Recently, he noted that around 90 percent of Zoho’s revenue comes from international markets, while only about 2 percent is linked to the Indian government. The company maintains a global footprint with offices across Japan, the US, Europe, China, Australia, Germany and South Africa.
Expanding Rural Development Model
Vembu has spent over a decade promoting rural development as a core business strategy. Zoho’s early rural experiment began in 2011 with a technology centre in Mathalamparai village in Tamil Nadu’s Tenkasi district, challenging the idea that advanced software work must be concentrated in cities.
That initiative has since grown into a wider rural ecosystem employing hundreds of professionals drawn largely from nearby communities.
Zoho has expanded this model through additional rural campuses in places like Tirunelveli, Madurai and Kumbakonam, deliberately shifting operations away from major urban hubs such as Chennai.
Beyond Software Into Local Industry
Beyond software, Vembu has also supported rural-focused ventures such as drone startup Yali Aerospace and power-tools company Karuvi, aimed at creating local manufacturing ecosystems outside big cities.
He has increasingly advocated for “reverse migration,” arguing that talent should flow back to villages and that rural economies can thrive if supported by jobs, entrepreneurship and infrastructure.
