Andrew MCKIRDY - The Japan Times

September 27, 2024

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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.

SOCCER / World cup

Mar 30, 2009

Okada unruffled by missed chances

SAITAMA — National team manager Takeshi Okada has defended his side's goalscoring record after watching Japan miss a slew of chances in Saturday's 1-0 win over Bahrain.

Japan Times

SOCCER / World cup

Mar 29, 2009

Nakamura-led Japan beats Bahrain

SAITAMA — Shunsuke Nakamura hauled Japan to within touching distance of a fourth successive World Cup with a trademark free kick to give his side a 1-0 win over Bahrain on Saturday.

Japan Times

SOCCER / World cup

Mar 28, 2009

Japan aims for another victory against Bahrain

SAITAMA — National team manager Takeshi Okada is determined to settle his side's rivalry with Bahrain once and for all in Saturday's World Cup qualifier at Saitama Stadium.

Japan Times

SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE

Mar 26, 2009

Okada reaps the benefits as Hasebe builds on potential

Shunsuke Nakamura and Yasuhito Endo will be expected to provide the artistry in Japan's World Cup qualifier at home to Bahrain on Saturday, but no player can build a cathedral without someone to carry the bricks.

Japan Times

SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE

Mar 19, 2009

Golden age becomes a distant memory for jaded Jubilo

While Kashima Antlers' start to the new J. League season has not been as imperious as it was shaping up to be, the Ibaraki club's troubles are nothing compared to those facing old rival Jubilo Iwata.

Japan Times

SOCCER / J. League

Mar 15, 2009

Home support inspires Reds against FC Tokyo

SAITAMA — Urawa Reds manager Volker Finke warned he intends to turn Saitama Stadium into a fortress after his side beat FC Tokyo 3-1 on Saturday to collect its first points of the J. League season.

Japan Times

SOCCER / J. League

Mar 8, 2009

Defending champion Antlers defeat Reds in intense opener

KASHIMA, Ibaraki Pref. — Kashima Antlers landed the first blow of the 2009 J. League season as the reigning champions beat Urawa Reds 2-0 in a ferocious opening-day battle of the big guns on Saturday.

Japan Times

SOCCER / J. League

Mar 7, 2009

Antlers favored for third straight J. League crown

The following is the second of a two-part J.League preview for the upcoming season. Team-by-team previews of the nine top-ranked teams competing in the first division are listed.

Japan Times

SOCCER / J. League

Mar 6, 2009

J. League also-rans looking to change gear

The following is the first of a two-part J. League preview for the upcoming season. Team-by-team previews of the nine bottom-ranked teams competing in the first division are listed.

Japan Times

SOCCER / J. League

Mar 5, 2009

Miyamoto returns to pass on experience

Tsuneyasu Miyamoto's time at Red Bull Salzburg may not have been as successful as he would have liked, but the former national team captain is determined to use the experience to benefit his new Vissel Kobe teammates.

Japan Times

SOCCER / J. League

Mar 4, 2009

Stojkovic confident Grampus will be contender again this season

Nagoya Grampus' challenge for the J. League title last season may have come as a shock to most observers, but manager Dragan Stojkovic insists he saw it coming all along.

Japan Times

SOCCER / J. League

Mar 3, 2009

JEF United aiming to use last season's adversity as stepping stone

Alex Miller packed more emotion into his seven months in charge of JEF United Chiba last season than most coaches manage in their entire careers, but the Scotsman believes the experience may prove the making of his team.

Japan Times

SOCCER / J. League

Mar 2, 2009

Supporters driving force behind Finke's Reds reclamation project

New Urawa Reds manager Volker Finke might not have been smitten with the team he saw play twice last season, but the German admits his first taste of the Saitama Stadium crowd was love at first sight.

Japan Times

SOCCER / J. League

Mar 1, 2009

Antlers trounce Gamba Osaka in curtain-raiser

Kashima Antlers sent out a warning to those who covet their J. League crown with a 3-0 thrashing of Gamba Osaka in the Fuji Xerox Super Cup on Saturday.

Japan Times

SOCCER / J. League

Feb 28, 2009

Antlers begin quest to defend J. League title

Kashima Antlers manager Oswaldo Oliveira is hoping his team can lay down a marker for the rest of the J. League season in Saturday's curtain-raising Fuji Xerox Super Cup clash against Gamba Osaka.

SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE

Feb 14, 2009

Japan showed promise in draw

Japan's 0-0 draw with Australia on Wednesday night was far from being the disastrous result that Socceroos manager Pim Verbeek warned it would be during his pre-match mind games.

Japan Times

SOCCER / World cup

Feb 12, 2009

Socceroos frustrate Japan in draw

YOKOHAMA — A disciplined defensive performance from Australia frustrated Japan's attempts to jump to the top of Asian World Cup qualifying Group A on Wednesday night as the Socceroos held Takeshi Okada's men to a 0-0 draw.

Japan Times

SOCCER / World cup

Feb 11, 2009

Verbeek believes pressure is on Japan in Group A qualifier

YOKOHAMA — Australia manager Pim Verbeek has shrugged off suggestions his players won't be ready in time for Wednesday's crunch World Cup qualifier against Japan, insisting the pressure is all on Takeshi Okada's side.

SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE

Feb 8, 2009

Victory over Australia would give Japan boost

Takeshi Okada faces the biggest test of his second coming as national team manager against Australia on Wednesday night, but there is evidence to suggest the optimistic noises he has been making recently have some justification.

Japan Times

SOCCER / World cup

Feb 5, 2009

Japan crush Finland ahead of qualifier

Japan gave national team manager Takeshi Okada a welcome tonic ahead of next week's World Cup-qualifying match against Australia with a resounding 5-1 win over Finland on Wednesday night.

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

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

By Alex K.T. Martin

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