Aurora Mizutani, born Dupelola Osaretin Ajala, known as Dupelola Ajala, daughter of Olabisi Ajala.

Aurora Mizutani, originally named Dupelola Osaretin Ajala, is the daughter of the esteemed journalist Olabisi Ajala. In 2012, she embraced her passion for storytelling by writing and publishing her debut children’s illustrated storybook, “Little Boy & Mr Scary Snake,” through Ajala Legacy Forum Publishing House. At the time, Aurora was still married to her first husband and chose to publish the book under the pseudonym D. A-Gravill, which reflects her ex-husband’s surname. Additionally, she has penned her memoirs, sharing her life experiences in a book that shares the same title as her father’s work. Her autobiographical piece, “An African Abroad,” was also released by Ajala Legacy Forum Publishing House. In 2016, Aurora married a Japanese national and adopted the name Aurora Mizutani. Her father’s journey began in North Africa, where Moshood Adisa Olabisi Ajala was born. Moshood Adisa Olabisi Ajala made a remarkable journey to America, achieving significant success along the w...

The most disconcerting thing about a Japanese funeral, for foreigners to comprehend, becomes apparent when the time comes to handle the charred bones of the recently deceased. Teruo’s funeral service I attended one of these functions when my Japanese father-in-law Teruo died in 2017. A likeable man, who spoke very little, Teruo was a Second World War veteran. I was sorry to see him go, but at the venerable age of ninety-four years, I realised his time had come. Aurora Mizutani’s husband with father Teruo, 2017 Teruo’s son’s reaction to the passing of their father was pragmatic. My husband, who was sixty years old at the time, comes from a culture with an understandably resigned attitude to the passing of time and its inevitable conclusion. Teruo with his son and his daughter-in-law Aurora Mizutani On the day of Teruo’s funeral, I was at the ceremony with my husband. We arrived at the wake the night before. The wake and the funeral were being held in Kobe. Our aeroplane landed in Osaka ...

  Post-pandemic Japan has been a revelation to behold. The system that signposted the country of Japan as a giant in the world’s economy in recent years, might in fact be attributed, almost solely to tourism. Aurora Mizutani guest speaker at Henoko Base protest 2015–2016 The wearing of face masks in Japan, a practice that was already prominent within society, has become the new social norm. If you don’t wear a face mask in Japan, (regardless of the mandatory mandate for wearing a mask having been lifted) you will be frowned upon, told off and possibly ostracized. This face mask hysteria is often propagated by the Japanese media, which never misses an opportunity to constantly convey to the public the dangers of social interactions, whilst advocating vaccines. This standpoint is not entirely exclusive to Japanese society in this time of social upheaval, but Japan takes face mask-wearing strictness to another level. Aurora Mizutani English teacher, Okinawa Japan, 2015–2018 English la...

  Japan is known for many reasons, mostly cultural. There are opportunities for foreigners in teaching jobs, entertainment, recreation, and tourism. However, one of Japan’s most fascinating social norms must be their partiality to wearing face masks. Aurora Mizutani with George Murasaki (紫) from the popular Japanese music band 2017–2018 Face mask-wearing in Japan has always been a mystery to foreigners. It is my understanding that the practice was introduced to encourage polite consideration for fellow nationals, in what is by all accounts an already extensively structured society. Face masks in Japan aim to prevent the spread of influenza and more importantly are worn by those concerned with harmful particles in the air emanating from the nuclear powerplant catastrophe of 2011. So now we know. English language teaching jobs for foreigners in Japan revolve around native English speakers. But job longevity is not guaranteed in Japan, and neither is career advancement. Lack of job se...