Since 1998, the event has been prefixed Gateway to The Open (全英への道, Zen'ei eno michi), with the top finishers gaining exemptions into The Open Championship.

The Mizuno Open has been held at several courses, most recently at Setonaikai Golf Club in Kasaoka, Okayama in 2021.

It was restricted to golfers using at least ten Mizuno clubs.

In 1979, fifty leading professionals in Japan were also eligible to compete as the tournament counted towards the Japan Golf Tour money-list ranking for the first time.

In 1983 it became a full tour event and in 1985 changed its name to the Mizuno Open.