From Chai to Cherry Blossoms: A social entrepreneurship love story in making

by Rimjhim Mohanty

Social entrepreneurship is like the superhero of the Gen Alpha business world—fighting social inequality with innovation and profit-making models instead of a cape—and it’s setting the stage for a blockbuster partnership between India and Japan. Think of it as the Marvel-style origin story of a new economic power duo, minus the explosions (okay, maybe just metaphorical ones in boardrooms).

India, now proudly flexing as the world’s fourth-largest economy, is that overachieving, high-energy genius in every global classroom—coding before breakfast, launching start-ups during lunch, and still managing to inspire millions by dinner. With its buzzing young population, relentless jugaad-powered innovation, and an export line of engineers and doctors that could rival any tech factory, India is all heart, hustle, and horsepower.

Japan, meanwhile, is the composed, ultra-efficient R&D maestro with a love for robots, clean design, and systems that run like clockwork—even the metaphors are punctual. With its Zen-like wisdom and eye for perfection, Japan is the quiet genius who shows up, upgrades everything, and disappears with a humble bow. If India is the vibrant Bollywood blockbuster, Japan is the masterfully shot anime that leaves you speechless.

Now picture them together. The Asian leadership power couple, we never knew we needed. Let’s call them IndoPan or JapIndia (branding in progress). They can be the Son Ye-Jin and Hyun Bin of geopolitics, the Raj and Simran of sustainable business goals or Neo and Trinity of futuristic ventures, perfect chemistry, and destined to change the world-order perhaps.

Enter social entrepreneurship—their “matchmaker with a mission.” From clean energy and smart cities to healthcare innovations and circular economies, this duo can check off UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) like they’re planning a dream team for the planet. It’s not just about doing business; it’s about doing good business.

Amidst all this synergy, we’ve also been quietly (and sometimes not-so-quietly) building our own venture — A2 Estate, Japan. For over a decade, we’ve been working as a bridge between India and Japan, helping to close economic and cultural gaps. Even through our main focus has been real estate and affordable housing for international students A2 Estate is warmly vested with cross-border business development, using a strong network and hands-on experience to turn meaningful ideas into scalable impact.

Somewhere between samosas and sushi, we try to bring the best of both worlds together. I’ve spent the past 10+ years as a passionate advocate for social entrepreneurship, often speaking and leading workshops at top universities/schools in India and Japan. These sessions are part TED Talk, part cultural exchange — and usually include me doing my best to show students that making a difference can be even more exciting than chasing the next unicorn.

So yes, social entrepreneurship isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a movement. From the wisdom of Buddhism to the spirit of innovation—India and Japan are not just collaborating, can co-creating a future with heart and soul.

Recently, Japan has gifted two advanced Shinkansen trains—E5 and E3 models—that will arrive by 2026 to India. These high-speed trains, capable of reaching 320 km/h, will be used for trial runs on the under-construction Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor, India’s first bullet train route. The Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail line, backed by Japanese funding and technology, is expected to be partially operational by 2026, with full inauguration planned for 2027. This strategic gift not only deepens India-Japan ties but also marks a giant leap toward realizing India’s vision of world-class, high-speed rail travel.

(Author is a Japan-based Odia social entrepreneur, educator, poet, and cultural ambassador. She has been fostering India-Japan collaborations for nearly two decades.)