‘Japan Karo’ Launched in Nagoya to Foster Japan-India Business Partnerships
Nagoya-based Indobox and Quartet Communications introduce a new SaaS platform to bridge Japanese SMEs with Indian companies.
NEW DELHI, INDIA: Japan Karo was launched recently in Nagoya, Japan, in an initiative aimed at strengthening business relationships between Japanese and Indian companies. Developed by Indobox, a firm that helps Japanese companies enter the Indian market, and Quartet Communications, an internet advertising company, Japan Karo has been designed as a mediation platform to bridge the gap between Japanese manufacturers and Indian companies.
The platform seeks to introduce the innovative technologies and services of Japanese manufacturers, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) interested in expanding into India. Presented in English, Japan Karo makes it easier for Indian companies to access information and explore potential partnerships with Japanese SMEs across industries like manufacturing, IT, and startups.
Japan has meticulous planning, precision, skillful technological development, strong attention to detail, and hospitality ” Omotenashi “. India has diversity, flexibility, dynamism, speed, and the creativity that comes out of chaos. Japan and India have elements that each other does not have. By successfully combining these strengths, we will create new value that has never existed before. What is important is the bridge that brings them together.
A trial rollout of Japan Karo began in September, with full-scale operations commencing in October 2024. Initially, the platform would attract 30 to 50 companies, primarily SMEs. As part of its services, Japan Karo provides language lessons, cultural insights, and business etiquette training to help Japanese companies overcome challenges when entering the Indian market. A mediation system has also been put in place to facilitate successful matches between interested Indian and Japanese companies.
Indobox’s Founder & CEO, Daisuke Tanji, highlighted the high level of interest from Indian businesses in Japanese products. However, he acknowledged the difficulties that SMEs in Japan faced in entering the Indian market. Japan Karo was established to mitigate these challenges, offering a platform for Japanese businesses to better understand and engage with the Indian market’s growing needs.
During the launch event in Nagoya recently, attendees, including individuals with a strong interest in India, participated in panel discussions, including one with Advisor Tomio Isogai. The session focused on the realities of doing business in India. The discussions continued over Indian snacks, providing an opportunity for participants to network and exchange ideas on how to strengthen Japan-India business ties.
In his remarks, Daisuke Tanji expressed his gratitude to the platform’s co-development partners, including Quartet Communications CEO Tsutsumi and CFO Iwai, and Rahul from Pune, India, who played a pivotal role in the platform’s development. “This is just the first step,” Tanji remarked. “We hope to grow Japan Karo into a platform that accelerates business cooperation between Japan and India.”
Japan Karo also announced a special campaign offering free publication for customers registering before January 31, 2025. The platform is expected to become a key resource for fostering collaborations, with Indobox planning to establish a local entity in South India later this year.
Tanji is a seasoned professional in facilitating Japan-India business linkages. He worked for 20 years at one of Japan’s leading trading houses and was stationed in New Delhi and Mumbai from 2013 to 2018. In 2023, he established Indobox Inc., aiming to create a comprehensive ecosystem for business collaboration between Japan and India across multiple sectors.
Led by Daisuke TANJI, the Japan Karo team consists of Co-Founder/Director Mariko Hanaoka, and experience professionals and experts in their respective fields. Ms. Mariko is a resident in South India, and works for a Japanese company in business development for new business in India and Japan. Her job role includes Public relations, Design, and Contents writing. She bis qualified Japanese teacher (IIT Palakkad Japanese class), English, Tamil, Bengali.
Other team member include Advisor Tomio Isogai, Advisor Shinichiro Taniguchi, Advisor Haruyuki Hiratani, Partner Unnikrishnan P.V., Legal Advisor Sandeep Sharma, Partner Satoshi Fujita, Intern Mina Hayashi, Partner Mandar Shripad SUGWEKAR, Advisor (Education) Takayuki Araki.
The Advisor Tomio Isogai is a resident of Pune, Western India with global business experience of 37 years. He is a former Managing Director of Sharp India, and has been in India for 12 years. He is also a Director with Kansai Japan-India Cultural Association, and a Senior Adviser of Kochhar & Co. a renowned law firm in India.
