“Revisiting South Asian Immigrant Entrepreneurship in Japan: Longevity, Diversity, and Policy Pathways of Sri Lankans” by Hettige Don Karunaratne (Invited Professor, Tokyo College, The University of Tokyo, and Chair Professor of Business Economics and Former Vice Chancellor, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka), October 13, 17:00-

Dear Colleagues,
皆さま

I am pleased to invite you to our upcoming academic seminar to be held at Waseda University. This seminar is open to the public and held in English.
以下のように、早稲田大学現代政治経済研究所「経済と安全保障との相互作用における経済・社会ネットワークの役割」研究部会を開催いたします。

This time, the main speaker is Prof. H. D. Karunaratne, who is a former Vice Chancellor (i.e., 総長) of the University of Colombo.
今回は、スリランカのコロンボ大学の前総長のKarunaratne先生をお招きして、南アジアからの日本への移民の起業活動についてお話しいただきます。

Date and Time: October 13 (Tue) 17:00-18:30

Venue: Waseda University, Waseda Campus, Building 3, Discussion Room (12th floor)
早稲田大学 早稲田キャンパス 3号館 ディスカッションルーム（12階）

Campus Map:
https://waseda.app.box.com/s/gsx693d8fj8v8b5zz6ii20nc7js0p3pz

We will hold a reception after the seminar near the campus with Prof. Karunaratne. If you are interested in joining us, please contact me at [email protected].
また、セミナーの後懇親会を行います。参加希望の方はお知らせください。

Speaker: Hettige Don Karunaratne
(Invited Professor, Tokyo College, The University of Tokyo, and Chair Professor of Business Economics and Former Vice Chancellor, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka)

Title: Revisiting South Asian Immigrant Entrepreneurship in Japan: Longevity, Diversity, and Policy Pathways of Sri Lankans

Abstract: 
This paper revisits South Asian immigrant entrepreneurship in Japan through a longitudinal lens, drawing on literature and two decades of evidence from Sri Lankan firms to identify patterns of longevity and diversity. Situating Sri Lankan entrepreneurship within a broader South Asian landscape—Bangladeshi business development, Nepali restaurant clusters, Pakistani vehicle-export networks, and Indian female-led startups—we show how mixed embeddedness and dynamic capabilities shape survival and growth under tightening host-country institutions. Recent policy shifts, including the six times rise in Business Manager visa capital (¥5m→¥30m), language and local-hire requirements, and higher permanent-residency thresholds, have disproportionately affected South Asian food-service and small-trade firms, prompting exits and strategic pivots. Using two decades of longitudinal (2006, 2016, and 2026 survey) data, we map sectoral decomposition, firm survival, and transnational linkages, and identify mechanisms—compliance capacity, diaspora networks, sustainable business strategies and digital adoption—that mediate policy shocks. We translate these findings into policy pathways for Japan and South Asian sending states: targeted compliance support, succession and mentorship programs, and bilateral skill–enterprise corridors that leverage EPA/SSW channels while improving productivity of vulnerable microenterprises.

Keywords: Immigrant Entrepreneurship, Mixed embeddedness, Business manager Visa in Japan, Longevity and Diversity of Immigrant firms, Sri Lankans in Japan

Best regards,