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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 / J. League
Jan 31, 2015
Nishikawa motivated by past failures
Urawa Reds and Japan goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa has urged his teammates to seize the moment over the year ahead after suffering disappointment for both club and country in the last two months.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jan 28, 2015
JFA right to pass up convenient opportunity to fire Aguirre
It remains to be seen how much longer Javier Aguirre will continue as national team manager, but at least the Japan Football Association did not use last week's early exit from the Asian Cup as an excuse to fire him.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Jan 24, 2015
New Marinos manager Mombaerts ready to get ball rolling
New Yokohama F. Marinos manager Erick Mombaerts says his players have exceeded expectations after one week on the job, and is determined to make a swift start to the 2015 J. League season.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jan 21, 2015
Japan gathering steam as Asian Cup gets down to business
There is certainly room for improvement as Japan takes the defense of its Asian Cup title into the quarterfinals on Friday, but the way the team has improved with each performance so far in Australia suggests the best is yet to come.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Jan 15, 2015
JFA won't answer to reports on match-fixing case involving Aguirre until after Asian Cup
The Japan Football Association will wait until Japan's ongoing Asian Cup campaign has finished before responding to reports that a match-fixing case involving manager Javier Aguirre will go to court, JFA president Kuniya Daini said Thursday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Jan 12, 2015
Houllier challenges Japan to raise game
Former Liverpool and France manager Gerard Houllier has urged Japan to cast aside its inferiority complex and close the gap on the world's leading soccer nations.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Jan 12, 2015
Houllier challenges Japan to take next step
Former Liverpool and France manager Gerard Houllier has urged Japan to cast aside its inferiority complex and close the gap on the world's leading soccer nations.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jan 7, 2015
Japan looking to put troubles on back burner at Asian Cup
Preparations could hardly have been more disrupted as Japan gets ready to defend its Asian Cup title, but that is all likely to be forgotten once the tournament kicks off on Friday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Dec 27, 2014
Japan manager Aguirre protests innocence over match-fixing allegations
National team manager Javier Aguirre launched an impassioned defense of his integrity as he broke his silence over match-fixing allegations on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Dec 18, 2014
JFA retains Aguirre for Asian Cup
Javier Aguirre will manage Japan at the Asian Cup in January despite being named as a defendant in a match-fixing case filed by Spanish prosecutors earlier this week, the Japan Football Association confirmed on Thursday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Dec 13, 2014
Gamba claim treble
Gamba Osaka completed a remarkable trophy treble by beating Montedio Yamagata 3-1 to lift the Emperor's Cup on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Dec 10, 2014
Gamba back on top after riding formidable wave of form
The notion of Gamba Osaka winning the 2014 J. League title was laughable when the club went into the World Cup break in the relegation zone, but after lifting the trophy on Saturday it is difficult to deny they deserved it.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Nov 26, 2014
Vital Gamba win over Urawa breathes new life into title race
Gamba Osaka manager Kenta Hasegawa said he wanted to make the J. League title race interesting in Saturday's game against Urawa Reds, and after watching his team blow the field wide open with a 2-0 win over the league leaders, his wish was certainly granted.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Nov 22, 2014
Gamba keep title hopes alive
Gamba Osaka launched a late smash-and-grab raid to blow the J. League title race wide open with a 2-0 win over Urawa Reds on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Nov 12, 2014
Aguirre's experiments on back burner as Asian Cup looms
Japan manager Javier Aguirre is running out of time to build a team for January's Asian Cup, but the Mexican will hope that the return of several familiar faces for two friendlies over the coming week can provide instant solutions.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Nov 8, 2014
Gamba win Nabisco Cup
Gamba Osaka lifted the Nabisco Cup after coming from two goals down to beat Sanfrecce Hiroshima 3-2 on Saturday, stoking hopes of a trophy treble.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Nov 2, 2014
S-Pulse stay afloat by beating Frontale
Substitute Kazuya Murata injected dramatic new life into Shimizu S-Pulse's J1 survival bid with a 90th-minute goal to seal a 3-2 win over Kawasaki Frontale on Sunday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Oct 29, 2014
Urawa, Gamba break clear of pack
Stranger things have happened in the J. League, but with four games of the season remaining, the title race is now almost certainly down to two teams.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Oct 26, 2014
Cerezo, Marinos settle for scoreless draw
Cerezo Osaka failed to seize the initiative in their fight against relegation after being held to a 0-0 draw by Yokohama F. Marinos on Sunday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Oct 18, 2014
Antlers squander lead twice in defeat to Reysol
Kashima Antlers wasted a glorious chance to make up ground in the J. League title race after twice throwing away a lead before conceding in the 90th minute to lose 3-2 to Kashiwa Reysol on Saturday.

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