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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
Sep 20, 2016
J. League chairman denies single-stage return a done deal
J. League chairman Mitsuru Murai on Tuesday denied that the league has already decided to return to a single-stage format from next season but confirmed that the idea is under consideration.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Sep 17, 2016
Reds rally past FC Tokyo, reduce Frontale's lead at top of table
Urawa Reds cut Kawasaki Frontale's lead at the top of the overall J. League table to two points after coming from behind to beat FC Tokyo 3-1 on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Sep 10, 2016
Reysol ease past struggling Antlers
Kashiwa Reysol heaped further pressure on Kashima Antlers and beleaguered manager Masatada Ishii with a 2-0 win over the first-stage champions on Saturday.
Japan Times
Rugby
Sep 5, 2016
Joseph digs in for long haul after taking Japan reins
New Japan national rugby team head coach Jamie Joseph has warned fans to expect pain before pleasure as he builds toward the 2019 World Cup on home soil.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Sep 2, 2016
Honda slams referee after 'ghost goal' haunts Japan's loss to UAE
Japan forward Keisuke Honda once again issued a damning verdict on the standard of Asia's referees after the Samurai Blue were denied a seemingly legitimate goal in Thursday's 2-1 World Cup-qualifying loss to the United Arab Emirates.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Sep 1, 2016
UAE capitalizes on Japan's miscues to secure victory
Japan's bid to reach a sixth straight World Cup suffered a damaging early blow with a 2-1 defeat to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday night.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Aug 31, 2016
Little margin for error as Japan aims for 2018 World Cup spot
After a year and a half of shadow boxing, national team manager Vahid Halilhodzic finally gets to taste some meaningful action when Japan begins the final round of Asian qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup against the United Arab Emirates on Thursday night.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 30, 2016
Japan's judo gold medalists praise country's efforts with eye on 2020 Games
Japan's Rio Olympic judo gold medalists believe their country has reclaimed its rightful place as the sport's world No. 1, but warned the pressure to succeed at the 2020 Tokyo Games will be enormous.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS / OLYMPIC VIEW
Aug 23, 2016
Despite hosting worries, Rio served up excitement, drama, service with a smile
What happens to Rio de Janeiro now that the 2016 Olympics have finished remains to be seen, but there was no denying the quality and drama of the past three weeks of competition.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 22, 2016
Rio passes Olympic flag to Tokyo, 'Super Abe' during closing ceremony
Tokyo took center stage as Rio de Janeiro handed over the Olympic flag to the 2020 host city at a rain-lashed but joyous closing ceremony for the Rio Games on Sunday.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 22, 2016
Japanese Olympic Committee hails record medal haul, states case for more funding
The Japanese Olympic Committee cast a satisfied eye over its biggest-ever Olympic medal haul at the Rio Games on Sunday but warned money must be spent to perform even better at Tokyo 2020.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 21, 2016
Brazil beats Germany on penalties to win first-ever Olympic soccer gold
Host nation Brazil — the most successful country in soccer history — finally claimed its first-ever Olympic gold medal in the sport after beating Germany 5-4 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in Saturday's men's final at the Rio Games.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS / OLYMPIC VIEW
Aug 21, 2016
Bolt ascends to true greatness with 'triple-triple' Olympic haul
"More than the greatest" was how Yohan Blake described his Jamaican teammate Usain Bolt after Friday night’s 4×100-meter relay final at the Rio Games.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 21, 2016
Koike, Tokyo 2020 chiefs promise not to leave 'white elephants'
New Tokyo governor, 2020 Olympic organizers vow not to saddle taxpayers with venues that cannot be reused following games.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 20, 2016
Track legend Bolt, other sprint stars praise Japan relay foursome's teamwork, dedication
Three-time triple Olympic gold medal-winner Usain Bolt insists he was not surprised by Japan's performance in claiming silver in the 4x100-meter relay at the Rio Games on Friday.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 20, 2016
Bolt completes triple-triple with Jamaica's gold in 4x100 relay; Japan makes history by taking silver
Japan came close to sabotaging Usain Bolt's bid for Olympic immortality but settled for a first-ever silver medal in the men's 4x100-meter relay at the Rio Games on Friday.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 20, 2016
Russian pole vault great Isinbayeva ends career with parting shot at track chiefs
Russian pole vault queen Yelena Isinbayeva announced her retirement on Friday and claimed "God will judge" track and field's governing body for denying her the chance to compete at the Rio Games.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS / OLYMPIC NOTEBOOK
Aug 19, 2016
Real personality of Rio hidden from view behind IOC's security blanket
The eyes of the world are on Rio de Janeiro while the Olympics are in town, but it is difficult to shake the feeling that the city is not showing its true face.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 19, 2016
Yoshida's wrestling reign comes to stunning end but Kawai takes gold
Saori Yoshida saw her bid to win a fourth straight Olympic wrestling gold medal crumble before her eyes after a seismic loss to American Helen Maroulis at the Rio Games on Thursday.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 19, 2016
Matsutomo, Takahashi claim Japan's first-ever Olympic badminton gold
Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi claimed Japan's first-ever Olympic badminton gold medal after beating Denmark's Christinna Pedersen and Kamilla Rytter Juhl 2-1 in Thursday's women's doubles final at the Rio Games.

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