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May 03, 2024
 

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Mizuho Aoki
Mizuho Aoki is a staff writer covering local news, including the current Tokyo gubernatorial race, education and aviation-related stories. She graduated from Hitotsubashi Universty with a degree in social science.
For Mizuho Aoki's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Dec 18, 2017
Japan set to bank ¥40 billion per year for tourism sector with new departure tax
From January 2019 Japan is set to impose a ¥1,000 tax on everyone departing the country, to secure funding for tourism infrastructure and promotion amid record-breaking arrivals of international travelers.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 30, 2017
Osaka surveys schools over hair-color rules after lawsuit
Around 80 percent of prefectural high schools in Osaka have requested students whose natural hair color is not black to confirm their original color, a Board of Education survey revealed.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 27, 2017
Japanese lawmaker sparks nationwide debate by taking her baby to work
A female politician's decision to bring her baby to an assembly session to highlight the difficulties faced by working mothers is drawing support on Twitter, with users saying they don't mind if people take their children to the workplace.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Nov 17, 2017
Reported crimes in Japan fell below 1 million mark last year
The overall number of crimes committed in Japan continued to drop in 2016, falling below the 1 million mark for the first time in the postwar era, according to the annual White Paper on Crime released Friday by the Justice Ministry.
Japan Times
JAPAN / GENERATIONAL CHANGE
Nov 13, 2017
Aki Higuchi's mission: Giving Japan's young minds a global outlook and confidence to speak out
Aki Higuchi, 28, grew up in a multicultural home, where university students from different countries came five days a week to look after her and her younger sister up until she turned 18.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health
Oct 30, 2017
Japan to offer free HIV testing in annual company health checks to encourage early detection
Fewer people are getting tested, and the government is looking for ways to turn that around.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Oct 28, 2017
Tsukiji races to exterminate rat infestation before fish market relocation
As the Tokyo Metropolitan Government works with industry groups to finalize the date for relocating the famed Tsukiji fish market next year, it is also mulling how to exterminate the hordes of rats infesting the current location.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 21, 2017
Experts call on Japan to promote inclusivity with 2020 Paralympics and bring Asia up to speed
The 2020 Tokyo Paralympics will provide a key opportunity for Japan to promote a more inclusive society, sports experts said at a symposium in Tokyo on Friday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 3, 2017
Strict gun laws mean Japan sees fewer shooting deaths
The number of gun deaths in Japan totaled six in 2014, compared with 33,599 in the United States, according to GunPolicy.org, a website run by the University of Sydney.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 25, 2017
Japan shouldn't neglect humanities studies in favor of other disciplines: Oxford professor
In June 2015, the education ministry sent shock waves through Japan's academic humanities community when it issued a notice urging national universities to restructure their humanities departments and shift their focus to fields that have greater social demand.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 20, 2017
Abe's snap election to cost taxpayers ¥60 billion to ¥70 billion
Some may question the decision to hold a costly election, but records show that the tenure of current members is actually longer than average.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Sep 19, 2017
Japan's women's colleges grapple with shifting views on gender
It was at the end of 2015 when an all-girl junior high school affiliated with Japan Women's University received an inquiry from a mother of an elementary school student, asking if her daughter would be eligible to apply for enrollment.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 18, 2017
Number of people in Japan aged 90 and above tops 2 million for first time
The number of Japanese 90 or older stood at 2.06 million as of last week.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Sep 7, 2017
Osaka hospital will review 300-hour monthly overtime limit after document's release
Doctors and nurses at a national hospital could theoretically rack up monthly overtime at three times higher than the government threshold, a labor-management agreement shows.
JAPAN
Aug 31, 2017
America-Japan Society recognizes lifetime contributions by U.S., Japanese citizens with new award
The America-Japan Society Inc. recognized on Thursday two people for their grassroots work to foster bilateral friendship between Japan and the United States, honoring the recipients — citizens from each of the two countries — with a new award launched this year.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Aug 28, 2017
Is Japan's annual student achievement test worth the cost?
Japan's elementary and junior high school students have strong basic academic skills but struggle to solve complex questions, according to this year's nationwide achievement test results, which were released Monday by the education ministry.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Aug 18, 2017
Japan's budding fashion rental services proving popular with working women, moms
Satoshi Amanuma recalls his wife standing in front of her closet full of clothes before they went out, muttering she had nothing to wear.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health
Aug 17, 2017
Japan's working cancer patients face pay cuts, mounting bills and lack of awareness, study shows
Medical advances are enabling more cancer patients to return to work after treatment, but not without difficulties. Many face pay cuts and struggle to cover medical bills or living costs, according to a recent survey of working cancer patients by Lifenet Insurance Co.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / CABINET INTERVIEW 2017
Aug 10, 2017
New education chief looks to repair ministry's tarnished image
The new education minister says he will decide on whether to approve scandal-tainted school operator Kake Gakuen's bid to open a new veterinary department after weighing the results of an ongoing screening by the ministry's panel of experts.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / CABINET INTERVIEW 2017
Aug 9, 2017
Internal affairs minister Noda eyes telecommuting to boost women's empowerment
Newly appointed Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Seiko Noda said she wants to take the initiative to promote teleworking to pave the way for more flexible working environments.
Weak yen fattens tourist wallets in Japan
People visit the Ameya Yokocho market in Tokyo's Ueno district during the Golden Week holiday on Tuesday.
Number of vacant homes in Japan hits record high of 9 million
A vacant house in Tokyo is seen demolished in January 2020.
'So hot you can't breathe': Extreme heat hits the Philippines
A pedestrian cools himself with a folding hand fan as he waits for a ride along a road in Manila on Wednesday, as extreme heat hit the Philippines.
Kishida sets sights on energy and climate in South America trip
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will use a policy speech in Sao Paulo to set out his vision for ties between Japan and South America, almost 10 years after former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe advocated for stronger ties between the two in the same city.
Town to block view of Mount Fuji in response to overtourism
The town government of Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, decided to set up a 2.5-meter-high screen to prevent tourists from taking pictures of Mount Fuji looming behind a convenience store.
Kishida sets sights on energy and climate in South America trip
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will use a policy speech in Sao Paulo to set out his vision for ties between Japan and South America, almost 10 years after former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe advocated for stronger ties between the two in the same city.
Yellow sand allergy: A health issue made worse by climate change
A screenshot of the Meteorological Agency's satellite image of clouds and yellow sand (in pink) on Sunday.
Climate change, chalky grains and the risks for Japan’s rice farmers
A farmer plants seedlings in Satsumasendai, Kagoshima Prefecture. Japan’s self sufficiency rate for rice is nearly 100%, compared with 38% for food overall, on a calorie basis.
Japan wants you to spend more with ‘luxury tourism’
Performers play a traditional drum unique to Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, in the prefectural capital of Kanazawa on March 16 to mark the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line to Tsuruga Station in Fukui Prefecture.
Theaster Gates’ ambitious ‘Afro-Mingei’ brings Black Chicago to Tokyo
Theaster Gates' “A Heavenly Chord” lines up church pews before seven speakers and a Hammond B3 organ, a type of electric organ prevalent in Black American churches.

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