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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.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 30, 2019
Springboks keeping eyes on prize ahead of RWC final
South Africa's Rugby World Cup players know how much lifting the trophy for a third time on Saturday would mean to their country — but they are looking no further than final opponent England.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 28, 2019
Triumphant Springboks carrying national pride into Rugby World Cup final
South Africa's Rugby World Cup players are hoping an "inspirational" groundswell of support back home can help them lift the Webb Ellis Cup for a third time this coming Saturday, after booking their place in the final on Sunday with a nerve-shredding win over Wales.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 27, 2019
South Africa outlasts Wales in semifinal thriller to reach Rugby World Cup final
Handre Pollard slotted a penalty with four minutes remaining to send South Africa into the Rugby World Cup final after a nail-biting 19-16 win over Wales on Sunday.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 27, 2019
Ice-cold England channels inner peace to reach Rugby World Cup final
England captain Owen Farrell credited his team's Zen-like inner peace for carrying it into the Rugby World Cup final after ending New Zealand's eight-year reign as champion on Saturday night.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 26, 2019
England ends All Blacks' reign in Rugby World Cup
England ended New Zealand's reign as Rugby World Cup champion in the semifinals on Saturday, beating the All Blacks 19-7 to reach the final for the first time since 2007.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 25, 2019
England players united for battle with All Blacks
England fullback Elliot Daly says his team is more united than ever as it prepares to face New Zealand in Saturday's Rugby World Cup semifinal.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 25, 2019
Springboks will rely on pack against Wales
South Africa standoff Handre Pollard believes his team's backs have the pace and skill to trouble Wales in Sunday's Rugby World Cup semifinal — if they can get the ball off their forward teammates for long enough.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 24, 2019
Coach Steve Hansen says pressure is on his All Blacks — but on England too
New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen on Thursday brushed off attempts to add spice to his team's Rugby World Cup semifinal against England, dismissing claims of spying by England head coach Eddie Jones as "clickbait."
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 23, 2019
Fans toast beer hawkers' debut at Rugby World Cup
Dilemma: You are watching a Rugby World Cup game at a stadium and you fancy a beer, but you don't want to take your eyes off the action.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 23, 2019
Wales hopes to reach first final by matching Springboks' physicality
Wales hooker Ken Owens says his team is ready to stand up to South Africa's physical might and fight fire with fire when the two teams meet in Sunday's Rugby World Cup semifinal.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 21, 2019
Brave Blossoms rue quarterfinal exit, but take pride in their Rugby World Cup heroics
Japan's Rugby World Cup players expressed mixed feelings as their incredible campaign came to an end with a quarterfinal defeat to South Africa on Sunday, with pride in their achievements largely crowding out the disappointment.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 20, 2019
South Africa routs Japan to advance to Rugby World Cup semifinals
South Africa ended Japan's phenomenal run at the Rugby World Cup with a 26-3 win in Sunday night's quarterfinal.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 20, 2019
Barrett hails All Blacks' quick start in quarterfinal romp over Ireland
New Zealand star Beauden Barrett paid tribute to his team's ability to shake off the cobwebs in Saturday's Rugby World Cup quarterfinal demolition of Ireland, as the All Blacks returned from a two-week layoff to set up a semifinal showdown against England.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 19, 2019
New Zealand torches Ireland to reach Rugby World Cup semifinals
Two-time defending champion New Zealand cruised into a Rugby World Cup semifinal matchup against England after dismantling Ireland 46-14 on Saturday night.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 18, 2019
Brave Blossoms coach Jamie Joseph says team is ready for physicality of Springboks
Japan head coach Jamie Joseph has warned his players to expect a brutal onslaught from South Africa's forwards when they go head to head in Sunday's Rugby World Cup quarterfinal.
Japan Times
PODCAST / deep dive
Oct 17, 2019
Episode 26: Perspectives from Typhoon Hagibis — a storm chaser, an evacuee, a reporter
Typhoon Hagibis hit Japan on Oct. 12, causing widespread damage to Tokyo and its surrounding prefectures. This week, storm chaser James Reynolds, evacueeu00a0Andrew McKirdyu00a0and reporteru00a0Chisato Tanakau00a0share their experiences of the typhoon.
Japan Times
JAPAN / First Person
Oct 17, 2019
Typhoon Hagibis: A night in an evacuation shelter shows just how fragile Tokyo life can be
If you look at a map of Kitasenju in Tokyo's Adachi Ward, you will see that it's almost entirely surrounded by water.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 16, 2019
Japan has 'nothing to lose' ahead of quarterfinal clash
Japan's Rugby World Cup heroes on Wednesday vowed to go for broke in their historic quarterfinal against South Africa on Sunday, insisting the Brave Blossoms have "nothing to lose" after reaching the knockout round for the first time.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 14, 2019
Brave Blossoms warn rivals 'there's more to come' after reaching Rugby World Cup quarterfinals
Japan's players allowed themselves a moment of satisfaction after beating Scotland to reach the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals for the first time on Sunday, but warned their next opponent, South Africa: "we're not finished yet."
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 13, 2019
Japan prevails over Scotland and secures historic berth in Rugby World Cup quarterfinals
Japan beat Scotland 28-21 on Sunday night to claim a place in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals for the first time ever, winning Pool A with a perfect record of four wins from four.
China fires long-range missile into Pacific Ocean in rare test
Chinese military vehicles carrying DF-41 intercontinental ballistic missiles travel past Beijing's Tiananmen Square during a military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, on Oct. 1, 2019.
Russia has a secret war drones project in China, intel sources say
Russian President Vladimir Putin visits a drone production facility of the the Special Technology Center in St. Petersburg on Sept. 19.
As Onosato dominates the spotlight, former sumo stars exit the stage
Takakeisho during a one-day tournament at Kokugikan in Tokyo in February 2020
Japan MSDF warship sails through Taiwan Strait for first time
The Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer Sazanami arrives in Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean during a scheduled port visit in July. The Sazanami became the first Japanese warship to sail through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday.
Putin issues nuclear warning to the West over Ukraine striking Russia
Russia's President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting of the Security Council on the subject of nuclear deterrence in Moscow on Wednesday.
Tokyo Game Show 2024 stacked with big returns and hyped announcements
Tokyo Game Show opens to the public on Sept. 28 full of cosplayers promoting a full slate of new and upcoming titles.
A first look inside the new Nintendo Museum
The Nintendo Museum opens to the public on Oct. 2, but unlike the company's all-ages games, the new attraction may be geared more toward older rather than younger gamers.
Japan MSDF warship sails through Taiwan Strait for first time
The Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer Sazanami arrives in Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean during a scheduled port visit in July. The Sazanami became the first Japanese warship to sail through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday.
People of all ages and sizes scale new heights amid climbing boom in Japan
A climbing wall at a kindergarten in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture. The sport has been on the rise in Japan, mainly due to the popularity it gained from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, and new climbing walls are popping all over the place.
China fires long-range missile into Pacific Ocean in rare test
Chinese military vehicles carrying DF-41 intercontinental ballistic missiles travel past Beijing's Tiananmen Square during a military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, on Oct. 1, 2019.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

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
By Alex K.T. Martin

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