NEW DELHI – Two Japanese women are running businesses in India to spread the taste of Japan in the world’s most populous nation with more than 1.4 billion people, with one pitching “onigiri” rice balls and another promoting sake.
During an early Christmas event at the Swiss Embassy in New Delhi on Nov. 30, 32-year-old Rina Koda’s onigiri sales booth was crowded with customers. Subrat Batra, who bought two rice balls, complimented the teriyaki chicken filling, saying the rich teriyaki flavor suited Indian tastes.
It all began in 2023, when then New Delhi resident Risa Hatano asked her friend Koda, who was studying in Europe, if they could start an onigiri business together. Hatano had come up with the idea as she felt there was a lack of quick and ready-to-eat food in India.
Koda moved to India in July 2024, believing that the business has growth potential as onigiri can be easily adapted to include ingredients unique to each country. Two months later, Koda and Hatano, both from Niigata Prefecture, opened an onigiri shop in New Delhi with their savings.
The shop offers 21 kinds of fillings, such as salmon, bonito flakes and spicy tuna with mayonnaise, for the onigiri, priced at about 200 rupees ($2) each. “We discovered that sour ‘umeboshi’ (Japanese pickled plum) appeals to Indian palates,” Koda said.
Hatano, who left India last year due to her husband’s job, continues to work with Koda remotely, such as holding online meetings to pick onigiri fillings and handling publicity on social media.
Meanwhile, Maaya Takaoka, a native of Kyoto Prefecture who moved to Mumbai last year, is working to promote sake rice wine.
“People over here are starting to think drinking sake is a cool thing to do, but I’d like to convey to them that there is a culture behind Japanese sake,” the 38-year-old said.
Takaoka’s company in Japan, established in 2018, delivers sake of her choice to customers’ homes every month for a fixed price.
AloJapan.com