Zoho’s Sridhar Vembu Runs in Traditional Attire for Japan’s Bullet Train, Captivating the Internet | Check It Out

Sridhar Vembu, the founder of Zoho, has charmed social media once more by sharing a video of himself aboard Japan’s renowned Shinkansen bullet train. In the video, he donned a traditional South Indian veshti (dhoti) along with a shirt.

The footage, shared on X, captures the Padma Shri awardee as he rushes to board the high-speed train, a backpack casually slung over his shoulders. He opted for a white veshti and shirt in place of a business suit or tie.

Accompanying the clip, Vembu wrote: “Nothing says Japan like running to catch the train… (with a laughing emoji).

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Nothing says Japan like running to catch the train…???? pic.twitter.com/ckT0yDFAOH

— Sridhar Vembu (@svembu) July 5, 2026

Recently, Vembu expressed his desire to forge partnerships between small and medium-sized enterprises in Japan and the rural communities of India. In a post on X, he mentioned that he was traveling to Japan to engage with businesses located in lesser-known towns.

“I am heading to Japan tomorrow. The goal is to collaborate with small to mid-sized companies in small-town Japan and introduce them to small town and rural India,” he stated.

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.

We want to restore our culture of craftsmanship – Aasaari (ஆசாரி) in Tamil and Vishwakarma (विश्वकर्मा) in Sanskrit – by…

— Sridhar Vembu (@svembu) July 2, 2026

Vembu emphasized that this initiative transcends business. He aims to revitalize India’s traditional craftsmanship and skilled trades.

“We want to restore our culture of craftsmanship – Aasaari in Tamil and Vishwakarma in Sanskrit – by collaborating with smaller Japanese firms that maintain these values and are rooted in rural Japan. The Japanese excel in fields requiring meticulous craftsmanship,” he elaborated.

His motivation was also influenced by his long-time friend Britto, hailing from Madurai, who spent many years in Japan before founding his own company, Takumi Motion Controls. According to Vembu, their discussions about Japan’s ‘Takumi’ philosophy have been significant. In Japanese, ‘Takumi’ refers to a master craftsman or highly skilled artisan.

“Britto-san and I connected over our admiration for Japanese craftsmanship. This has become our mission,” he remarked.

In 2020, Sridhar Vembu made the decision to leave California’s Silicon Valley and relocate to Mathalamparai, a village in the Tenkasi district. Since then, he has advocated for Zoho’s ‘Work from Village’ initiative.

Rather than requiring individuals to migrate to urban areas for employment, the company has established technology offices in villages and small towns.