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 Andrew MCKIRDY

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Andrew MCKIRDY
Andrew McKirdy is a sports writer for The Japan Times. His main beat is soccer, but he has also covered rugby, tennis, volleyball, golf and even tug-of-war. A native of the Scottish Borders, he has written for The Scotsman newspaper and organized filming for a program on Japanese soccer for ITV television.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 16, 2015
Japan held to scoreless draw by 154th-ranked Singapore
Japan got its 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign off to an embarrassing start after being held to a 0-0 home draw by Singapore on Tuesday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / Women's World Cup / SOCCER SCENE
Jun 15, 2015
Japan has room for improvement at Women's World Cup
Japan has made it through to the knockout phase of the Women's World Cup with the minimum of fuss, but the reigning champions will have to move up a gear if they are serious about defending their title.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Jun 12, 2015
Cronut master is concocting new pastries for Tokyo store
Cronut fans in Japan can swap local imitations for the real thing when the creator of the croissant-doughnut hybrid, pastry chef Dominique Ansel, opens his new bakery in Tokyo on June 20.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Jun 12, 2015
Win over Iraq helps Samurai Blue rebuild confidence
Keisuke Honda admits Japan is still suffering mental "damage" from last year's World Cup and needs more wins like Thursday's 4-0 thrashing of Iraq to exorcize the demons.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Jun 11, 2015
Japan trounces Iraq in friendly
Japan warmed up for the start of its 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign with a ruthless 4-0 win over Iraq in a friendly on Thursday night.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jun 10, 2015
Halilhodzic looking to build on strong start as qualifiers begin
It would be unthinkable for Japan to begin its 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign with anything other than a win at home to Singapore next Tuesday, but manager Vahid Halilhodzic will be looking for more from his team than just three points.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 9, 2015
National Stadium architects reject reports they may be fired
The architects behind Tokyo's new National Stadium deny reports that they may be fired from the project as criticism mounts over the building's cost and appearance.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Jun 7, 2015
Reds close in on first-stage title
Urawa Reds as good as wrapped up the J. League first-stage title but were forced to leave the champagne on ice after beating Shimizu S-Pulse 1-0 on Sunday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
May 30, 2015
Patric's late goal gives Gamba a draw with Marinos
Gamba Osaka substitute Patric scored in the 95th minute to claim a 1-1 draw and deny Yokohama F. Marinos a fifth straight J. League win on Saturday.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
May 28, 2015
Early summer shifts have merit but experts see overtime, family disruption risks
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is hoping to kick-start a summer of love by shifting work hours forward in order to free up time in the evenings for families to spend together.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
May 23, 2015
Urawa shows mettle in victory over Kashima
Urawa Reds took a significant step toward the J. League first stage title after coming from behind to beat Kashima Antlers 2-1 on Saturday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
May 15, 2015
Astroscale opens lab in Tokyo in bid to clean up space junk
A Singapore-based company that aims to sweep junk from space has expanded to Tokyo and has handed its biggest broom to 32-year-old female President Miki Ito.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
May 6, 2015
Streaking Sanfrecce beat Frontale for fifth straight win
Sanfrecce Hiroshima picked up their fifth straight win with a smash-and-grab 1-0 victory over Kawasaki Frontale on Wednesday to move one point off the top of the J. League table.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
May 2, 2015
Reds beat Gamba in showdown between J. League's top two teams
Zlatan Ljubijankic scored with six minutes remaining to keep Urawa Reds on top of the J. League with a 1-0 win over closest rival Gamba Osaka on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Apr 25, 2015
Reds build three-point cushion atop J. League table
Urawa Reds extended their lead at the top of the J. League table with a comfortable 2-1 win over Nagoya Grampus on Saturday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Apr 24, 2015
Apple Watch debuts in Japan with little fanfare
The much-hyped Apple Watch went on sale to a muted fanfare Friday as shoppers came to terms with limited availability of the tech giant's first wearable gadget.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Apr 22, 2015
Gamba, Reds force way to top again
The J. League season is only six games old, but already there is a familiar look about both the top and bottom of the table.
Japan Times
TENNIS
Apr 18, 2015
Japan, Belarus tied after opening day of Fed Cup World Group II playoff
Kurumi Nara won her singles match to cancel out former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka's victory in the opening rubber as Japan and Belarus ended the first day of their Fed Cup World Group II playoff on Saturday tied at 1-1.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 14, 2015
Thais flock to Japan for holiday, ignore freeze on flight increases
Thai tourists took advantage of a weaker yen and relaxed visa restrictions to flock to Japan over the three-day Songkran holiday ending Wednesday, but a temporary freeze on Thai flight increases to the country was likely to impact numbers.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Apr 12, 2015
Chelsea target Muto sends FC Tokyo joint-top of J. League table
Chelsea target Yoshinori Muto lived up to his billing with the winning goal as FC Tokyo beat Shonan Bellmare 1-0 on Sunday to move joint-top of the J. League table.

Longform

A woman passes an "akichi" (vacant lot) in Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo. The capital is littered with such small lots in part because of Japan's aging and shrinking population.
Dealing with rising land vacancies as Japan shrinks