Koike says she will push for cost-efficient Olympics, women's rights agenda

I have a feeling she may be biting off more than she can chew... Perhaps tackle one or two items at a time and make progress rather than solve all the world's problems at once. (Tokyo being her world.)

She noted there is a Japanese word that expresses the idea — “mottainai,” meaning “what a waste.” For instance, Koike said, the idea is demonstrated in the Japanese Shinto tradition of rebuilding the holiest shrine of Ise every 20 years, in which some old materials are reused.

I thought that the idea was more "waste not". I have to say that her example is pretty poor - if a shrine must be rebuilt every 20 years, regardless of the condition of the building, then it is a big waste. The time, planning, and resources would be better spent on something else.

Same old spiel. Expect similar results. She didn't waste any time blowing something like 10 million yen on a 6 day trip to Rio just days after she was elected.

She said she is currently developing a special fabric for female Muslim athletes to use during the Olympics.

This is very hard to believe.

Also, what is the point of delaying the fish market move? Far too late now to change anything and unless the move goes ahead as already planned/decided it won't be possible to hold the Olympics.

Koike studied at American University in Cairo and speaks Arabic.

This is never challenged but it was a brief exchange study kind of deal apparently and she never really got to grips with the language.

She said she is currently developing a special fabric for female Muslim athletes to use during the Olympics.

What's wrong with the ones they wear now?

Exactly what I was thinking Star. How about not rebuilding it until it needs to be rebuilt?

This women is certainly promising a lot. I hope she can deliver but I'm so jaded from endless promises from J politicians and never seeing results.

She said she is currently developing a special fabric for female Muslim athletes to use during the Olympics.

What? So, in addition to her regular duties she's now a fabric designer? And for Muslim women?

“I’ve always wanted to be someone that people would say, ‘you are the only one,’” Koike said.

She's 64 and still single so no-one has said it yet. Cheer up, Ms.Koike, maybe that special someone is out there. It's never too late to find love!

Please start with building more schools! It's ludicrous that kids can't get into a local school... only 3 out of 10 kids actually get into a local school in Tokyo... it's crazy

The official Olympic logo was delayed until this year after an earlier pick was scrapped over plagiarism allegations.

I guess they could have held it up as an example of "re-use"!

She said Japanese tolerance of overtime should also be corrected, so that overtime is considered a lack of efficiency.

That's my Governor.

“Mottainai”

Wow, yet another uniquely Japanese concept....... :)

Please start with building more schools! It's ludicrous that kids can't get into a local school... only 3 out of 10 kids actually get into a local school in Tokyo... it's crazy

What schools are you talking about? Many public schools in Tokyo operate well below capacity. Many have been closed because there were not enough children in their local area.

Not only do I read about educational issues because its an area of research but also because I have two kids in Tokyo public schools (middle school and high school). I've never seen or heard the claim you make.

What's wrong with the ones they wear now?

Japan is hot and humid in the summer, not what the athletes are used to.

I have to say that her example is pretty poor - if a shrine must be rebuilt every 20 years, regardless of the condition of the building, then it is a big waste.

Some years ago I visited Ise Shrine during the rebuilding process. If anything the rebuilding interval should be less than 20 years. The materials used deteriorate very rapidly. As far as I know, only the Ise Shrine does this periodic rebuilding. If there are others, they are not well known.

Most shrines and temples are rebuilt or repaired as needed. As far as I know, the Japanese government does not follow the British model of subsidizing repairs to religious sites even if they have great historical importance.

Increasingly shrines are being allowed to fall into disrepair because there is no caretaker or because the money for repair cannot be found. There are several shrines in my neighborhood that look like they could collapse at any time. This issue has been taken up in television news reports.

... maybe that special someone is out there

I'm kind of thinking the mayor of Tokyo wouldn't have any problem finding a date, if she wanted one.

Excuse my cynicism. Perhaps what she meant was mondai nai! It worked for Abe when questioned about Fukushima during Tokyo's Olympic bid.

Preparations are under way for the 2020 Olympics, but they have been plagued with problems. An initial main stadium design by an Iraqi-born architect, the late Zaha Hadid, was scrapped because of soaring costs. The official Olympic logo was delayed until this year after an earlier pick was scrapped over plagiarism allegations. Then there was a questionable payment to a Singaporean firm in relation to Tokyo’s winning bid.

Riddled with corruption and scandal... the 2020 Olympics aren't getting off to a good start... let's hope they can pull it together. I remember all of the claims that Japanese athletes had never used PEDs, blah, blah and it seems it came back to bite em in the oshiri.

She said Japanese tolerance of overtime should also be corrected, so that overtime is considered a lack of efficiency.

Lack of efficiency? not always. What should be addressed are the cultural spins put on biz here, such as the "Service Overtime." If companies had to dish out a time and a half, they'd shove their employees out the door when the bell rings.