Gunawardhana Ravindra

Gunawardhana Ravindra makes entrepreneurship look easy. ‘Ravi’ started up his third business venture last year when he brought two fellow Sri Lankan cooks to Fukuoka and opened his restaurant Pol Pol in Tenjin. With authentic Sri Lankan flavor, Polpol offers a taste of his homeland as well as an opportunity to explore Sri Lankan culture. Ravi came to Japan as an exchange student in 2001. He moved to Fukuoka in 2005 and started up his first company offering I.T. services the following year. Business was good, but he didn’t stay idle, he expanded into the import-export services in 2007. He waited two years before opening Pol Pol, and he already has plans for further growth and development. Read more online at fukuokanow.com to learn how he’s accomplished so much so fast.

In the nine years he’s been Japan, Ravi has been a rolling stone of entrepreneurship. In 2001 he came to Japan from Sri Lanka to study computer science and Japanese at Kumamoto University. After finishing school, he spent the next two years working as a salary man immersed in the Japanese business world. He began his entrepreneurial pursuits with the founding of an I.T. company in 2006. The following year he expanded into the import-export sector.
His newest business venture is a traditional Sri Lankan Restaurant. Opened in December of 2009, Pol Pol connects Ravi with his home land and is the next step in his every growing vision of life in Japan. We sat down with Ravi in his restaurant to learn what we could about his journey so far and his ideas for the future.

 

Ravi: I came to Japan in 2001. I came for education I studied computer science at Kumamoto University as well as Japanese language.

 

Ravi: No. At first it was difficult. I followed my professor around a lot.

 

Ravi: In 2004, I got a job in Kumamoto working for Natural Coffee. It was a Japanese company that imported coffee from Brazil. My contract there lasted one year. When it was finished I came to Fukuoka and worked for Nishihon Lease for one year.

 

Ravi: It’s just how it worked out.

 

Ravi: It was a good experience, but they work very long hours.

 

Ravi: [shrugs] Well… [laughs]

 

Ravi: After I finished at Nishihon Lease I started my I.T. company. I create software for business to use to help manage internal information like payroll, inventory, and customer information.

 

Ravi: Well, at the time it made more sense. Japan is more technologically advanced. There’s a greater demand, more customers, and just a much larger market. Sri Lanka is a developing market, but I expect it to grow a lot in the next ten years so I might expand…

 

Ravi: In 2007 I expanded. I started to import traditional Sri Lankan teas and organic teas from Sri Lanka and I began exporting cars, machinery, and spare parts.

 

Ravi: Mostly Sri Lanka and Russia.

 

Ravi: I opened it in December of last year. I opened it because I love the taste of Sri Lankan food. The people here are adventurous and will try new foods and explore other cultures. Because there was only one Sri Lankan restaurant in the city at the time, I felt it was a good opportunity. It made sense from a business standpoint and it gives me an opportunity to give back and share with the people here.

 

Ravi: It’s spicy. We also use coconut milk in a lot of traditional dishes. I think that the people of Fukuoka like a lot of flavor and heat in their food.

 

Ravi: I saw to most everything personally. The cooks I brought in from Sri Lanka. My wife works as the manager. I import in a lot of the spices we use.

 

Ravi: Well, we’re past the period of uncertainty now. We have regular customers and I get to talk to a lot of them about Sri Lanka . As for difficulties, as a foreigner living in Japan there are certain things that you have to deal with that would not be an issue for a native. For example, when I went to rent the space for the restaurant they told me they needed a guarantor, a Japanese guarantor. So I asked them if I could take out a company contract instead. They told me that was fine and I sent them the paperwork. When they got it they were a little surprised and asked me if I was the company’s president. When I told them I was the president then we were back to square one.

 

Ravi: I got a Japanese guarantor.

 

Ravi: Obviously learn the language. Also, I think working for a Japanese company is important. You get a feel for how business is done here. Greetings are very important, very formal, and there’s a way that they should be done correctly. Punctuality is also very important. A lot of time is spent making sure you’re on time. You have to understand that decisions in Japan are thought through longer, more time is spent planning and analyzing. In Sri Lanka you could meet with someone and a decision is made after just one meeting and a handshake. Here nothing moves that fast.

 

Ravi: I’d like to expand my import business, maybe bring in Sri Lankan fruits. I want to bring more of Sri Lanka to Fukuoka. I’d also like to expand my restaurant business, open up more branches. More immediately I’m helping to bring a group of traditional Sri Lankan dancers and performers to Fukuoka on September 18th.

 

Ravi: Just come down to the restaurant and talk, learn about Sri Lanka and enjoy good food!
Ravi is an inspiring individual. Obviously he’s got a good eye for business and despite his belief that Japanese business hours run a little long, he clearly has the work ethic to make things happen. He writes software, re-brands and distributes his imported teas, sends cars and parts overseas, and still finds time to spend his evenings at the restaurant shaking hands and acting as a cultural ambassador of his homeland. He employs a system engineer,

two managers working with importing and exporting, and his two Sri Lankan cooks. He claims to enjoy traveling, but I’m not sure how or when he has time.
Go check out his restaurant. Lunch is served from 11:30-17:00 and set lunch courses start at only 750円 and include three different styles of curry, your choice of tea or coffee, salad and a desert. Dinner is from 18:00-11:30.
On September 18th check out Bridge of Sounds at the Fukuoka Science building. A stunning visual and musical display of Sri Lankan culture, they’ve been performing in China, Europe, and India and Ravi is excited to help bring them to Fukuoka.

 

 

 

 

Gunawardhana Ravindra makes entrepreneurship look easy. ‘Ravi’ started up his third business venture last year when he brought two fellow Sri Lankan cooks to Fukuoka and opened his restaurant Pol Pol in Tenjin. With authentic Sri Lankan flavor, Polpol offers a taste of his homeland as well as an opportunity to explore Sri Lankan culture. Ravi came to Japan as an exchange student in 2001. He moved to Fukuoka in 2005 and started up his first company offering I.T. services the following year. Business was good, but he didn’t stay idle, he expanded into the import-export services in 2007. He waited two years before opening Pol Pol, and he already has plans for further growth and development. Read more online at fukuokanow.com to learn how he’s accomplished so much so fast.

In the nine years he’s been Japan, Ravi has been a rolling stone of entrepreneurship. In 2001 he came to Japan from Sri Lanka to study computer science and Japanese at Kumamoto University. After finishing school, he spent the next two years working as a salary man immersed in the Japanese business world. He began his entrepreneurial pursuits with the founding of an I.T. company in 2006. The following year he expanded into the import-export sector.
His newest business venture is a traditional Sri Lankan Restaurant. Opened in December of 2009, Pol Pol connects Ravi with his home land and is the next step in his every growing vision of life in Japan. We sat down with Ravi in his restaurant to learn what we could about his journey so far and his ideas for the future.

 

Ravi: I came to Japan in 2001. I came for education I studied computer science at Kumamoto University as well as Japanese language.

 

Ravi: No. At first it was difficult. I followed my professor around a lot.

 

Ravi: In 2004, I got a job in Kumamoto working for Natural Coffee. It was a Japanese company that imported coffee from Brazil. My contract there lasted one year. When it was finished I came to Fukuoka and worked for Nishihon Lease for one year.

 

Ravi: It’s just how it worked out.

 

Ravi: It was a good experience, but they work very long hours.

 

Ravi: [shrugs] Well… [laughs]

 

Ravi: After I finished at Nishihon Lease I started my I.T. company. I create software for business to use to help manage internal information like payroll, inventory, and customer information.

 

Ravi: Well, at the time it made more sense. Japan is more technologically advanced. There’s a greater demand, more customers, and just a much larger market. Sri Lanka is a developing market, but I expect it to grow a lot in the next ten years so I might expand…

 

Ravi: In 2007 I expanded. I started to import traditional Sri Lankan teas and organic teas from Sri Lanka and I began exporting cars, machinery, and spare parts.

 

Ravi: Mostly Sri Lanka and Russia.

 

Ravi: I opened it in December of last year. I opened it because I love the taste of Sri Lankan food. The people here are adventurous and will try new foods and explore other cultures. Because there was only one Sri Lankan restaurant in the city at the time, I felt it was a good opportunity. It made sense from a business standpoint and it gives me an opportunity to give back and share with the people here.

 

Ravi: It’s spicy. We also use coconut milk in a lot of traditional dishes. I think that the people of Fukuoka like a lot of flavor and heat in their food.

 

Ravi: I saw to most everything personally. The cooks I brought in from Sri Lanka. My wife works as the manager. I import in a lot of the spices we use.

 

Ravi: Well, we’re past the period of uncertainty now. We have regular customers and I get to talk to a lot of them about Sri Lanka . As for difficulties, as a foreigner living in Japan there are certain things that you have to deal with that would not be an issue for a native. For example, when I went to rent the space for the restaurant they told me they needed a guarantor, a Japanese guarantor. So I asked them if I could take out a company contract instead. They told me that was fine and I sent them the paperwork. When they got it they were a little surprised and asked me if I was the company’s president. When I told them I was the president then we were back to square one.

 

Ravi: I got a Japanese guarantor.

 

Ravi: Obviously learn the language. Also, I think working for a Japanese company is important. You get a feel for how business is done here. Greetings are very important, very formal, and there’s a way that they should be done correctly. Punctuality is also very important. A lot of time is spent making sure you’re on time. You have to understand that decisions in Japan are thought through longer, more time is spent planning and analyzing. In Sri Lanka you could meet with someone and a decision is made after just one meeting and a handshake. Here nothing moves that fast.

 

Ravi: I’d like to expand my import business, maybe bring in Sri Lankan fruits. I want to bring more of Sri Lanka to Fukuoka. I’d also like to expand my restaurant business, open up more branches. More immediately I’m helping to bring a group of traditional Sri Lankan dancers and performers to Fukuoka on September 18th.

 

Ravi: Just come down to the restaurant and talk, learn about Sri Lanka and enjoy good food!
Ravi is an inspiring individual. Obviously he’s got a good eye for business and despite his belief that Japanese business hours run a little long, he clearly has the work ethic to make things happen. He writes software, re-brands and distributes his imported teas, sends cars and parts overseas, and still finds time to spend his evenings at the restaurant shaking hands and acting as a cultural ambassador of his homeland. He employs a system engineer,

two managers working with importing and exporting, and his two Sri Lankan cooks. He claims to enjoy traveling, but I’m not sure how or when he has time.
Go check out his restaurant. Lunch is served from 11:30-17:00 and set lunch courses start at only 750円 and include three different styles of curry, your choice of tea or coffee, salad and a desert. Dinner is from 18:00-11:30.
On September 18th check out Bridge of Sounds at the Fukuoka Science building. A stunning visual and musical display of Sri Lankan culture, they’ve been performing in China, Europe, and India and Ravi is excited to help bring them to Fukuoka.

 

 

 

 

Gunawardhana Ravindra makes entrepreneurship look easy. ‘Ravi’ started up his third business venture last year when he brought two fellow Sri Lankan cooks to Fukuoka and opened his restaurant Pol Pol in Tenjin. With authentic Sri Lankan flavor, Polpol offers a taste of his homeland as well as an opportunity to explore Sri Lankan culture. Ravi came to Japan as an exchange student in 2001. He moved to Fukuoka in 2005 and started up his first company offering I.T. services the following year. Business was good, but he didn’t stay idle, he expanded into the import-export services in 2007. He waited two years before opening Pol Pol, and he already has plans for further growth and development. Read more online at fukuokanow.com to learn how he’s accomplished so much so fast.

In the nine years he’s been Japan, Ravi has been a rolling stone of entrepreneurship. In 2001 he came to Japan from Sri Lanka to study computer science and Japanese at Kumamoto University. After finishing school, he spent the next two years working as a salary man immersed in the Japanese business world. He began his entrepreneurial pursuits with the founding of an I.T. company in 2006. The following year he expanded into the import-export sector.
His newest business venture is a traditional Sri Lankan Restaurant. Opened in December of 2009, Pol Pol connects Ravi with his home land and is the next step in his every growing vision of life in Japan. We sat down with Ravi in his restaurant to learn what we could about his journey so far and his ideas for the future.

 

Ravi: I came to Japan in 2001. I came for education I studied computer science at Kumamoto University as well as Japanese language.

 

Ravi: No. At first it was difficult. I followed my professor around a lot.

 

Ravi: In 2004, I got a job in Kumamoto working for Natural Coffee. It was a Japanese company that imported coffee from Brazil. My contract there lasted one year. When it was finished I came to Fukuoka and worked for Nishihon Lease for one year.

 

Ravi: It’s just how it worked out.

 

Ravi: It was a good experience, but they work very long hours.

 

Ravi: [shrugs] Well… [laughs]

 

Ravi: After I finished at Nishihon Lease I started my I.T. company. I create software for business to use to help manage internal information like payroll, inventory, and customer information.

 

Ravi: Well, at the time it made more sense. Japan is more technologically advanced. There’s a greater demand, more customers, and just a much larger market. Sri Lanka is a developing market, but I expect it to grow a lot in the next ten years so I might expand…

 

Ravi: In 2007 I expanded. I started to import traditional Sri Lankan teas and organic teas from Sri Lanka and I began exporting cars, machinery, and spare parts.

 

Ravi: Mostly Sri Lanka and Russia.

 

Ravi: I opened it in December of last year. I opened it because I love the taste of Sri Lankan food. The people here are adventurous and will try new foods and explore other cultures. Because there was only one Sri Lankan restaurant in the city at the time, I felt it was a good opportunity. It made sense from a business standpoint and it gives me an opportunity to give back and share with the people here.

 

Ravi: It’s spicy. We also use coconut milk in a lot of traditional dishes. I think that the people of Fukuoka like a lot of flavor and heat in their food.

 

Ravi: I saw to most everything personally. The cooks I brought in from Sri Lanka. My wife works as the manager. I import in a lot of the spices we use.

 

Ravi: Well, we’re past the period of uncertainty now. We have regular customers and I get to talk to a lot of them about Sri Lanka . As for difficulties, as a foreigner living in Japan there are certain things that you have to deal with that would not be an issue for a native. For example, when I went to rent the space for the restaurant they told me they needed a guarantor, a Japanese guarantor. So I asked them if I could take out a company contract instead. They told me that was fine and I sent them the paperwork. When they got it they were a little surprised and asked me if I was the company’s president. When I told them I was the president then we were back to square one.

 

Ravi: I got a Japanese guarantor.

 

Ravi: Obviously learn the language. Also, I think working for a Japanese company is important. You get a feel for how business is done here. Greetings are very important, very formal, and there’s a way that they should be done correctly. Punctuality is also very important. A lot of time is spent making sure you’re on time. You have to understand that decisions in Japan are thought through longer, more time is spent planning and analyzing. In Sri Lanka you could meet with someone and a decision is made after just one meeting and a handshake. Here nothing moves that fast.

 

Ravi: I’d like to expand my import business, maybe bring in Sri Lankan fruits. I want to bring more of Sri Lanka to Fukuoka. I’d also like to expand my restaurant business, open up more branches. More immediately I’m helping to bring a group of traditional Sri Lankan dancers and performers to Fukuoka on September 18th.

 

Ravi: Just come down to the restaurant and talk, learn about Sri Lanka and enjoy good food!
Ravi is an inspiring individual. Obviously he’s got a good eye for business and despite his belief that Japanese business hours run a little long, he clearly has the work ethic to make things happen. He writes software, re-brands and distributes his imported teas, sends cars and parts overseas, and still finds time to spend his evenings at the restaurant shaking hands and acting as a cultural ambassador of his homeland. He employs a system engineer,

two managers working with importing and exporting, and his two Sri Lankan cooks. He claims to enjoy traveling, but I’m not sure how or when he has time.
Go check out his restaurant. Lunch is served from 11:30-17:00 and set lunch courses start at only 750円 and include three different styles of curry, your choice of tea or coffee, salad and a desert. Dinner is from 18:00-11:30.
On September 18th check out Bridge of Sounds at the Fukuoka Science building. A stunning visual and musical display of Sri Lankan culture, they’ve been performing in China, Europe, and India and Ravi is excited to help bring them to Fukuoka.

 

 

 

 

Gunawardhana Ravindra makes entrepreneurship look easy. ‘Ravi’ started up his third business venture last year when he brought two fellow Sri Lankan cooks to Fukuoka and opened his restaurant Pol Pol in Tenjin. With authentic Sri Lankan flavor, Polpol offers a taste of his homeland as well as an opportunity to explore Sri Lankan culture. Ravi came to Japan as an exchange student in 2001. He moved to Fukuoka in 2005 and started up his first company offering I.T. services the following year. Business was good, but he didn’t stay idle, he expanded into the import-export services in 2007. He waited two years before opening Pol Pol, and he already has plans for further growth and development. Read more online at fukuokanow.com to learn how he’s accomplished so much so fast.

In the nine years he’s been Japan, Ravi has been a rolling stone of entrepreneurship. In 2001 he came to Japan from Sri Lanka to study computer science and Japanese at Kumamoto University. After finishing school, he spent the next two years working as a salary man immersed in the Japanese business world. He began his entrepreneurial pursuits with the founding of an I.T. company in 2006. The following year he expanded into the import-export sector.
His newest business venture is a traditional Sri Lankan Restaurant. Opened in December of 2009, Pol Pol connects Ravi with his home land and is the next step in his every growing vision of life in Japan. We sat down with Ravi in his restaurant to learn what we could about his journey so far and his ideas for the future.

 

Ravi: I came to Japan in 2001. I came for education I studied computer science at Kumamoto University as well as Japanese language.

 

Ravi: No. At first it was difficult. I followed my professor around a lot.

 

Ravi: In 2004, I got a job in Kumamoto working for Natural Coffee. It was a Japanese company that imported coffee from Brazil. My contract there lasted one year. When it was finished I came to Fukuoka and worked for Nishihon Lease for one year.

 

Ravi: It’s just how it worked out.

 

Ravi: It was a good experience, but they work very long hours.

 

Ravi: [shrugs] Well… [laughs]

 

Ravi: After I finished at Nishihon Lease I started my I.T. company. I create software for business to use to help manage internal information like payroll, inventory, and customer information.

 

Ravi: Well, at the time it made more sense. Japan is more technologically advanced. There’s a greater demand, more customers, and just a much larger market. Sri Lanka is a developing market, but I expect it to grow a lot in the next ten years so I might expand…

 

Ravi: In 2007 I expanded. I started to import traditional Sri Lankan teas and organic teas from Sri Lanka and I began exporting cars, machinery, and spare parts.

 

Ravi: Mostly Sri Lanka and Russia.

 

Ravi: I opened it in December of last year. I opened it because I love the taste of Sri Lankan food. The people here are adventurous and will try new foods and explore other cultures. Because there was only one Sri Lankan restaurant in the city at the time, I felt it was a good opportunity. It made sense from a business standpoint and it gives me an opportunity to give back and share with the people here.

 

Ravi: It’s spicy. We also use coconut milk in a lot of traditional dishes. I think that the people of Fukuoka like a lot of flavor and heat in their food.

 

Ravi: I saw to most everything personally. The cooks I brought in from Sri Lanka. My wife works as the manager. I import in a lot of the spices we use.

 

Ravi: Well, we’re past the period of uncertainty now. We have regular customers and I get to talk to a lot of them about Sri Lanka . As for difficulties, as a foreigner living in Japan there are certain things that you have to deal with that would not be an issue for a native. For example, when I went to rent the space for the restaurant they told me they needed a guarantor, a Japanese guarantor. So I asked them if I could take out a company contract instead. They told me that was fine and I sent them the paperwork. When they got it they were a little surprised and asked me if I was the company’s president. When I told them I was the president then we were back to square one.

 

Ravi: I got a Japanese guarantor.

 

Ravi: Obviously learn the language. Also, I think working for a Japanese company is important. You get a feel for how business is done here. Greetings are very important, very formal, and there’s a way that they should be done correctly. Punctuality is also very important. A lot of time is spent making sure you’re on time. You have to understand that decisions in Japan are thought through longer, more time is spent planning and analyzing. In Sri Lanka you could meet with someone and a decision is made after just one meeting and a handshake. Here nothing moves that fast.

 

Ravi: I’d like to expand my import business, maybe bring in Sri Lankan fruits. I want to bring more of Sri Lanka to Fukuoka. I’d also like to expand my restaurant business, open up more branches. More immediately I’m helping to bring a group of traditional Sri Lankan dancers and performers to Fukuoka on September 18th.

 

Ravi: Just come down to the restaurant and talk, learn about Sri Lanka and enjoy good food!
Ravi is an inspiring individual. Obviously he’s got a good eye for business and despite his belief that Japanese business hours run a little long, he clearly has the work ethic to make things happen. He writes software, re-brands and distributes his imported teas, sends cars and parts overseas, and still finds time to spend his evenings at the restaurant shaking hands and acting as a cultural ambassador of his homeland. He employs a system engineer,

two managers working with importing and exporting, and his two Sri Lankan cooks. He claims to enjoy traveling, but I’m not sure how or when he has time.
Go check out his restaurant. Lunch is served from 11:30-17:00 and set lunch courses start at only 750円 and include three different styles of curry, your choice of tea or coffee, salad and a desert. Dinner is from 18:00-11:30.
On September 18th check out Bridge of Sounds at the Fukuoka Science building. A stunning visual and musical display of Sri Lankan culture, they’ve been performing in China, Europe, and India and Ravi is excited to help bring them to Fukuoka.

 

Gunawardhana Ravindra makes entrepreneurship look easy. ‘Ravi’ started up his third business venture last year when he brought two fellow Sri Lankan cooks to Fukuoka and opened his restaurant Pol Pol in Tenjin. With authentic Sri Lankan flavor, Polpol offers a taste of his homeland as well as an opportunity to explore Sri Lankan culture. Ravi came to Japan as an exchange student in 2001. He moved to Fukuoka in 2005 and started up his first company offering I.T. services the following year. Business was good, but he didn’t stay idle, he expanded into the import-export services in 2007. He waited two years before opening Pol Pol, and he already has plans for further growth and development. Read more online at fukuokanow.com to learn how he’s accomplished so much so fast.

In the nine years he’s been Japan, Ravi has been a rolling stone of entrepreneurship. In 2001 he came to Japan from Sri Lanka to study computer science and Japanese at Kumamoto University. After finishing school, he spent the next two years working as a salary man immersed in the Japanese business world. He began his entrepreneurial pursuits with the founding of an I.T. company in 2006. The following year he expanded into the import-export sector.
His newest business venture is a traditional Sri Lankan Restaurant. Opened in December of 2009, Pol Pol connects Ravi with his home land and is the next step in his every growing vision of life in Japan. We sat down with Ravi in his restaurant to learn what we could about his journey so far and his ideas for the future.

 

Ravi: I came to Japan in 2001. I came for education I studied computer science at Kumamoto University as well as Japanese language.

 

Ravi: No. At first it was difficult. I followed my professor around a lot.

 

Ravi: In 2004, I got a job in Kumamoto working for Natural Coffee. It was a Japanese company that imported coffee from Brazil. My contract there lasted one year. When it was finished I came to Fukuoka and worked for Nishihon Lease for one year.

 

Ravi: It’s just how it worked out.

 

Ravi: It was a good experience, but they work very long hours.

 

Ravi: [shrugs] Well… [laughs]

 

Ravi: After I finished at Nishihon Lease I started my I.T. company. I create software for business to use to help manage internal information like payroll, inventory, and customer information.

 

Ravi: Well, at the time it made more sense. Japan is more technologically advanced. There’s a greater demand, more customers, and just a much larger market. Sri Lanka is a developing market, but I expect it to grow a lot in the next ten years so I might expand…

 

Ravi: In 2007 I expanded. I started to import traditional Sri Lankan teas and organic teas from Sri Lanka and I began exporting cars, machinery, and spare parts.

 

Ravi: Mostly Sri Lanka and Russia.

 

Ravi: I opened it in December of last year. I opened it because I love the taste of Sri Lankan food. The people here are adventurous and will try new foods and explore other cultures. Because there was only one Sri Lankan restaurant in the city at the time, I felt it was a good opportunity. It made sense from a business standpoint and it gives me an opportunity to give back and share with the people here.

 

Ravi: It’s spicy. We also use coconut milk in a lot of traditional dishes. I think that the people of Fukuoka like a lot of flavor and heat in their food.

 

Ravi: I saw to most everything personally. The cooks I brought in from Sri Lanka. My wife works as the manager. I import in a lot of the spices we use.

 

Ravi: Well, we’re past the period of uncertainty now. We have regular customers and I get to talk to a lot of them about Sri Lanka . As for difficulties, as a foreigner living in Japan there are certain things that you have to deal with that would not be an issue for a native. For example, when I went to rent the space for the restaurant they told me they needed a guarantor, a Japanese guarantor. So I asked them if I could take out a company contract instead. They told me that was fine and I sent them the paperwork. When they got it they were a little surprised and asked me if I was the company’s president. When I told them I was the president then we were back to square one.

 

Ravi: I got a Japanese guarantor.

 

Ravi: Obviously learn the language. Also, I think working for a Japanese company is important. You get a feel for how business is done here. Greetings are very important, very formal, and there’s a way that they should be done correctly. Punctuality is also very important. A lot of time is spent making sure you’re on time. You have to understand that decisions in Japan are thought through longer, more time is spent planning and analyzing. In Sri Lanka you could meet with someone and a decision is made after just one meeting and a handshake. Here nothing moves that fast.

 

Ravi: I’d like to expand my import business, maybe bring in Sri Lankan fruits. I want to bring more of Sri Lanka to Fukuoka. I’d also like to expand my restaurant business, open up more branches. More immediately I’m helping to bring a group of traditional Sri Lankan dancers and performers to Fukuoka on September 18th.

 

Ravi: Just come down to the restaurant and talk, learn about Sri Lanka and enjoy good food!
Ravi is an inspiring individual. Obviously he’s got a good eye for business and despite his belief that Japanese business hours run a little long, he clearly has the work ethic to make things happen. He writes software, re-brands and distributes his imported teas, sends cars and parts overseas, and still finds time to spend his evenings at the restaurant shaking hands and acting as a cultural ambassador of his homeland. He employs a system engineer,

two managers working with importing and exporting, and his two Sri Lankan cooks. He claims to enjoy traveling, but I’m not sure how or when he has time.
Go check out his restaurant. Lunch is served from 11:30-17:00 and set lunch courses start at only 750円 and include three different styles of curry, your choice of tea or coffee, salad and a desert. Dinner is from 18:00-11:30.
On September 18th check out Bridge of Sounds at the Fukuoka Science building. A stunning visual and musical display of Sri Lankan culture, they’ve been performing in China, Europe, and India and Ravi is excited to help bring them to Fukuoka.

 

 

 

 

Gunawardhana Ravindra makes entrepreneurship look easy. ‘Ravi’ started up his third business venture last year when he brought two fellow Sri Lankan cooks to Fukuoka and opened his restaurant Pol Pol in Tenjin. With authentic Sri Lankan flavor, Polpol offers a taste of his homeland as well as an opportunity to explore Sri Lankan culture. Ravi came to Japan as an exchange student in 2001. He moved to Fukuoka in 2005 and started up his first company offering I.T. services the following year. Business was good, but he didn’t stay idle, he expanded into the import-export services in 2007. He waited two years before opening Pol Pol, and he already has plans for further growth and development. Read more online at fukuokanow.com to learn how he’s accomplished so much so fast.

In the nine years he’s been Japan, Ravi has been a rolling stone of entrepreneurship. In 2001 he came to Japan from Sri Lanka to study computer science and Japanese at Kumamoto University. After finishing school, he spent the next two years working as a salary man immersed in the Japanese business world. He began his entrepreneurial pursuits with the founding of an I.T. company in 2006. The following year he expanded into the import-export sector.
His newest business venture is a traditional Sri Lankan Restaurant. Opened in December of 2009, Pol Pol connects Ravi with his home land and is the next step in his every growing vision of life in Japan. We sat down with Ravi in his restaurant to learn what we could about his journey so far and his ideas for the future.

 

Ravi: I came to Japan in 2001. I came for education I studied computer science at Kumamoto University as well as Japanese language.

 

Ravi: No. At first it was difficult. I followed my professor around a lot.

 

Ravi: In 2004, I got a job in Kumamoto working for Natural Coffee. It was a Japanese company that imported coffee from Brazil. My contract there lasted one year. When it was finished I came to Fukuoka and worked for Nishihon Lease for one year.

 

Ravi: It’s just how it worked out.

 

Ravi: It was a good experience, but they work very long hours.

 

Ravi: [shrugs] Well… [laughs]

 

Ravi: After I finished at Nishihon Lease I started my I.T. company. I create software for business to use to help manage internal information like payroll, inventory, and customer information.

 

Ravi: Well, at the time it made more sense. Japan is more technologically advanced. There’s a greater demand, more customers, and just a much larger market. Sri Lanka is a developing market, but I expect it to grow a lot in the next ten years so I might expand…

 

Ravi: In 2007 I expanded. I started to import traditional Sri Lankan teas and organic teas from Sri Lanka and I began exporting cars, machinery, and spare parts.

 

Ravi: Mostly Sri Lanka and Russia.

 

Ravi: I opened it in December of last year. I opened it because I love the taste of Sri Lankan food. The people here are adventurous and will try new foods and explore other cultures. Because there was only one Sri Lankan restaurant in the city at the time, I felt it was a good opportunity. It made sense from a business standpoint and it gives me an opportunity to give back and share with the people here.

 

Ravi: It’s spicy. We also use coconut milk in a lot of traditional dishes. I think that the people of Fukuoka like a lot of flavor and heat in their food.

 

Ravi: I saw to most everything personally. The cooks I brought in from Sri Lanka. My wife works as the manager. I import in a lot of the spices we use.

 

Ravi: Well, we’re past the period of uncertainty now. We have regular customers and I get to talk to a lot of them about Sri Lanka . As for difficulties, as a foreigner living in Japan there are certain things that you have to deal with that would not be an issue for a native. For example, when I went to rent the space for the restaurant they told me they needed a guarantor, a Japanese guarantor. So I asked them if I could take out a company contract instead. They told me that was fine and I sent them the paperwork. When they got it they were a little surprised and asked me if I was the company’s president. When I told them I was the president then we were back to square one.

 

Ravi: I got a Japanese guarantor.

 

Ravi: Obviously learn the language. Also, I think working for a Japanese company is important. You get a feel for how business is done here. Greetings are very important, very formal, and there’s a way that they should be done correctly. Punctuality is also very important. A lot of time is spent making sure you’re on time. You have to understand that decisions in Japan are thought through longer, more time is spent planning and analyzing. In Sri Lanka you could meet with someone and a decision is made after just one meeting and a handshake. Here nothing moves that fast.

 

Ravi: I’d like to expand my import business, maybe bring in Sri Lankan fruits. I want to bring more of Sri Lanka to Fukuoka. I’d also like to expand my restaurant business, open up more branches. More immediately I’m helping to bring a group of traditional Sri Lankan dancers and performers to Fukuoka on September 18th.

 

Ravi: Just come down to the restaurant and talk, learn about Sri Lanka and enjoy good food!
Ravi is an inspiring individual. Obviously he’s got a good eye for business and despite his belief that Japanese business hours run a little long, he clearly has the work ethic to make things happen. He writes software, re-brands and distributes his imported teas, sends cars and parts overseas, and still finds time to spend his evenings at the restaurant shaking hands and acting as a cultural ambassador of his homeland. He employs a system engineer,

two managers working with importing and exporting, and his two Sri Lankan cooks. He claims to enjoy traveling, but I’m not sure how or when he has time.
Go check out his restaurant. Lunch is served from 11:30-17:00 and set lunch courses start at only 750円 and include three different styles of curry, your choice of tea or coffee, salad and a desert. Dinner is from 18:00-11:30.
On September 18th check out Bridge of Sounds at the Fukuoka Science building. A stunning visual and musical display of Sri Lankan culture, they’ve been performing in China, Europe, and India and Ravi is excited to help bring them to Fukuoka.

 

 

 

 

Gunawardhana Ravindra makes entrepreneurship look easy. ‘Ravi’ started up his third business venture last year when he brought two fellow Sri Lankan cooks to Fukuoka and opened his restaurant Pol Pol in Tenjin. With authentic Sri Lankan flavor, Polpol offers a taste of his homeland as well as an opportunity to explore Sri Lankan culture. Ravi came to Japan as an exchange student in 2001. He moved to Fukuoka in 2005 and started up his first company offering I.T. services the following year. Business was good, but he didn’t stay idle, he expanded into the import-export services in 2007. He waited two years before opening Pol Pol, and he already has plans for further growth and development. Read more online at fukuokanow.com to learn how he’s accomplished so much so fast.

In the nine years he’s been Japan, Ravi has been a rolling stone of entrepreneurship. In 2001 he came to Japan from Sri Lanka to study computer science and Japanese at Kumamoto University. After finishing school, he spent the next two years working as a salary man immersed in the Japanese business world. He began his entrepreneurial pursuits with the founding of an I.T. company in 2006. The following year he expanded into the import-export sector.
His newest business venture is a traditional Sri Lankan Restaurant. Opened in December of 2009, Pol Pol connects Ravi with his home land and is the next step in his every growing vision of life in Japan. We sat down with Ravi in his restaurant to learn what we could about his journey so far and his ideas for the future.

 

Ravi: I came to Japan in 2001. I came for education I studied computer science at Kumamoto University as well as Japanese language.

 

Ravi: No. At first it was difficult. I followed my professor around a lot.

 

Ravi: In 2004, I got a job in Kumamoto working for Natural Coffee. It was a Japanese company that imported coffee from Brazil. My contract there lasted one year. When it was finished I came to Fukuoka and worked for Nishihon Lease for one year.

 

Ravi: It’s just how it worked out.

 

Ravi: It was a good experience, but they work very long hours.

 

Ravi: [shrugs] Well… [laughs]

 

Ravi: After I finished at Nishihon Lease I started my I.T. company. I create software for business to use to help manage internal information like payroll, inventory, and customer information.

 

Ravi: Well, at the time it made more sense. Japan is more technologically advanced. There’s a greater demand, more customers, and just a much larger market. Sri Lanka is a developing market, but I expect it to grow a lot in the next ten years so I might expand…

 

Ravi: In 2007 I expanded. I started to import traditional Sri Lankan teas and organic teas from Sri Lanka and I began exporting cars, machinery, and spare parts.

 

Ravi: Mostly Sri Lanka and Russia.

 

Ravi: I opened it in December of last year. I opened it because I love the taste of Sri Lankan food. The people here are adventurous and will try new foods and explore other cultures. Because there was only one Sri Lankan restaurant in the city at the time, I felt it was a good opportunity. It made sense from a business standpoint and it gives me an opportunity to give back and share with the people here.

 

Ravi: It’s spicy. We also use coconut milk in a lot of traditional dishes. I think that the people of Fukuoka like a lot of flavor and heat in their food.

 

Ravi: I saw to most everything personally. The cooks I brought in from Sri Lanka. My wife works as the manager. I import in a lot of the spices we use.

 

Ravi: Well, we’re past the period of uncertainty now. We have regular customers and I get to talk to a lot of them about Sri Lanka . As for difficulties, as a foreigner living in Japan there are certain things that you have to deal with that would not be an issue for a native. For example, when I went to rent the space for the restaurant they told me they needed a guarantor, a Japanese guarantor. So I asked them if I could take out a company contract instead. They told me that was fine and I sent them the paperwork. When they got it they were a little surprised and asked me if I was the company’s president. When I told them I was the president then we were back to square one.

 

Ravi: I got a Japanese guarantor.

 

Ravi: Obviously learn the language. Also, I think working for a Japanese company is important. You get a feel for how business is done here. Greetings are very important, very formal, and there’s a way that they should be done correctly. Punctuality is also very important. A lot of time is spent making sure you’re on time. You have to understand that decisions in Japan are thought through longer, more time is spent planning and analyzing. In Sri Lanka you could meet with someone and a decision is made after just one meeting and a handshake. Here nothing moves that fast.

 

Ravi: I’d like to expand my import business, maybe bring in Sri Lankan fruits. I want to bring more of Sri Lanka to Fukuoka. I’d also like to expand my restaurant business, open up more branches. More immediately I’m helping to bring a group of traditional Sri Lankan dancers and performers to Fukuoka on September 18th.

 

Ravi: Just come down to the restaurant and talk, learn about Sri Lanka and enjoy good food!
Ravi is an inspiring individual. Obviously he’s got a good eye for business and despite his belief that Japanese business hours run a little long, he clearly has the work ethic to make things happen. He writes software, re-brands and distributes his imported teas, sends cars and parts overseas, and still finds time to spend his evenings at the restaurant shaking hands and acting as a cultural ambassador of his homeland. He employs a system engineer,

two managers working with importing and exporting, and his two Sri Lankan cooks. He claims to enjoy traveling, but I’m not sure how or when he has time.
Go check out his restaurant. Lunch is served from 11:30-17:00 and set lunch courses start at only 750円 and include three different styles of curry, your choice of tea or coffee, salad and a desert. Dinner is from 18:00-11:30.
On September 18th check out Bridge of Sounds at the Fukuoka Science building. A stunning visual and musical display of Sri Lankan culture, they’ve been performing in China, Europe, and India and Ravi is excited to help bring them to Fukuoka.

 

 

 

 

Gunawardhana Ravindra makes entrepreneurship look easy. ‘Ravi’ started up his third business venture last year when he brought two fellow Sri Lankan cooks to Fukuoka and opened his restaurant Pol Pol in Tenjin. With authentic Sri Lankan flavor, Polpol offers a taste of his homeland as well as an opportunity to explore Sri Lankan culture. Ravi came to Japan as an exchange student in 2001. He moved to Fukuoka in 2005 and started up his first company offering I.T. services the following year. Business was good, but he didn’t stay idle, he expanded into the import-export services in 2007. He waited two years before opening Pol Pol, and he already has plans for further growth and development. Read more online at fukuokanow.com to learn how he’s accomplished so much so fast.

In the nine years he’s been Japan, Ravi has been a rolling stone of entrepreneurship. In 2001 he came to Japan from Sri Lanka to study computer science and Japanese at Kumamoto University. After finishing school, he spent the next two years working as a salary man immersed in the Japanese business world. He began his entrepreneurial pursuits with the founding of an I.T. company in 2006. The following year he expanded into the import-export sector.
His newest business venture is a traditional Sri Lankan Restaurant. Opened in December of 2009, Pol Pol connects Ravi with his home land and is the next step in his every growing vision of life in Japan. We sat down with Ravi in his restaurant to learn what we could about his journey so far and his ideas for the future.

 

Ravi: I came to Japan in 2001. I came for education I studied computer science at Kumamoto University as well as Japanese language.

 

Ravi: No. At first it was difficult. I followed my professor around a lot.

 

Ravi: In 2004, I got a job in Kumamoto working for Natural Coffee. It was a Japanese company that imported coffee from Brazil. My contract there lasted one year. When it was finished I came to Fukuoka and worked for Nishihon Lease for one year.

 

Ravi: It’s just how it worked out.

 

Ravi: It was a good experience, but they work very long hours.

 

Ravi: [shrugs] Well… [laughs]

 

Ravi: After I finished at Nishihon Lease I started my I.T. company. I create software for business to use to help manage internal information like payroll, inventory, and customer information.

 

Ravi: Well, at the time it made more sense. Japan is more technologically advanced. There’s a greater demand, more customers, and just a much larger market. Sri Lanka is a developing market, but I expect it to grow a lot in the next ten years so I might expand…

 

Ravi: In 2007 I expanded. I started to import traditional Sri Lankan teas and organic teas from Sri Lanka and I began exporting cars, machinery, and spare parts.

 

Ravi: Mostly Sri Lanka and Russia.

 

Ravi: I opened it in December of last year. I opened it because I love the taste of Sri Lankan food. The people here are adventurous and will try new foods and explore other cultures. Because there was only one Sri Lankan restaurant in the city at the time, I felt it was a good opportunity. It made sense from a business standpoint and it gives me an opportunity to give back and share with the people here.

 

Ravi: It’s spicy. We also use coconut milk in a lot of traditional dishes. I think that the people of Fukuoka like a lot of flavor and heat in their food.

 

Ravi: I saw to most everything personally. The cooks I brought in from Sri Lanka. My wife works as the manager. I import in a lot of the spices we use.

 

Ravi: Well, we’re past the period of uncertainty now. We have regular customers and I get to talk to a lot of them about Sri Lanka . As for difficulties, as a foreigner living in Japan there are certain things that you have to deal with that would not be an issue for a native. For example, when I went to rent the space for the restaurant they told me they needed a guarantor, a Japanese guarantor. So I asked them if I could take out a company contract instead. They told me that was fine and I sent them the paperwork. When they got it they were a little surprised and asked me if I was the company’s president. When I told them I was the president then we were back to square one.

 

Ravi: I got a Japanese guarantor.

 

Ravi: Obviously learn the language. Also, I think working for a Japanese company is important. You get a feel for how business is done here. Greetings are very important, very formal, and there’s a way that they should be done correctly. Punctuality is also very important. A lot of time is spent making sure you’re on time. You have to understand that decisions in Japan are thought through longer, more time is spent planning and analyzing. In Sri Lanka you could meet with someone and a decision is made after just one meeting and a handshake. Here nothing moves that fast.

 

Ravi: I’d like to expand my import business, maybe bring in Sri Lankan fruits. I want to bring more of Sri Lanka to Fukuoka. I’d also like to expand my restaurant business, open up more branches. More immediately I’m helping to bring a group of traditional Sri Lankan dancers and performers to Fukuoka on September 18th.

 

Ravi: Just come down to the restaurant and talk, learn about Sri Lanka and enjoy good food!
Ravi is an inspiring individual. Obviously he’s got a good eye for business and despite his belief that Japanese business hours run a little long, he clearly has the work ethic to make things happen. He writes software, re-brands and distributes his imported teas, sends cars and parts overseas, and still finds time to spend his evenings at the restaurant shaking hands and acting as a cultural ambassador of his homeland. He employs a system engineer,

two managers working with importing and exporting, and his two Sri Lankan cooks. He claims to enjoy traveling, but I’m not sure how or when he has time.
Go check out his restaurant. Lunch is served from 11:30-17:00 and set lunch courses start at only 750円 and include three different styles of curry, your choice of tea or coffee, salad and a desert. Dinner is from 18:00-11:30.
On September 18th check out Bridge of Sounds at the Fukuoka Science building. A stunning visual and musical display of Sri Lankan culture, they’ve been performing in China, Europe, and India and Ravi is excited to help bring them to Fukuoka.