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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
OLYMPICS
Aug 18, 2016
Japanese fans shrug off crime and Zika in Rio, look forward to Tokyo's turn
Japanese attending the Rio Olympics say they have found the host city safer than they were led to believe and are looking forward to welcoming the world at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 18, 2016
Icho leads Japan's wrestling sweep with historic fourth straight gold
Grappler Kaori Icho wins a historic fourth consecutive gold medal as Team Japan gets away with a clean sweep of the wrestling mat at the Rio Olympics.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 17, 2016
Japan pushes mighty U.S. team before falling in rout
Japan's women's basketball team pushed the United States before crumbling after halftime on the way to a 110-64 quarterfinal defeat at the Rio Games on Tuesday.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 17, 2016
Teen star Ito leads Japan to team table tennis bronze
Fifteen-year-old Mima Ito showed the composure of a veteran to lead Japan's women to the table tennis team bronze medal at the Rio Olympics on Tuesday with a 3-1 win over Singapore.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 16, 2016
Table tennis star Fukuhara warms Chinese hearts at Olympics
Ai Fukuhara will have the support of a nation when Japan takes on Singapore for the women's table tennis team bronze medal at the Rio Olympics on Tuesday — plus a Chinese public that has taken the 27-year-old to its heart.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 16, 2016
Japan secures first-ever men's team table tennis medal with victory in semis
Japan guaranteed itself a first-ever Olympic men's table tennis team medal on Monday after beating Germany 3-1 to set up a final showdown with defending champion China.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS / OLYMPIC VIEW
Aug 16, 2016
Bolt looking good for ‘triple-triple’ after 100-meter success
Usain Bolt has done the hard part.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 15, 2016
Bolt sprints into history with third gold in 100
Usain Bolt carved his name deeper into Olympic legend when he came from behind to reel in Justin Gatlin and win his third-straight 100-meter gold medal at the Rio Games on Sunday.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 15, 2016
Favorite Shirai misses medal in Olympic floor exercise final
Gold-medal favorite Kenzo Shirai failed to live up to his billing after falling to a shock fourth-place finish in the men's floor exercise final at the Rio Olympics on Sunday.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 14, 2016
Brazil struggling to match Olympic enthusiasm with sporting success
Japan may be riding high in the medal table at the Rio Olympics, but the host country is not having the same luck.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 14, 2016
Phelps signs off with 23rd gold as U.S. wins 4x100 medley relay
Michael Phelps brought the curtain down on his incredible swimming career with his 23rd Olympic gold medal — and his fifth of the Rio Games — as the United States beat Britain and Australia to win the men's 4x100-meter medley relay on Saturday.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 14, 2016
Nishikori to face Nadal for bronze after losing Olympic semifinal to Murray
Kei Nishikori's bid for an Olympic gold medal came up short after a 6-1, 6-4 semifinal defeat to defending champion Andy Murray at the Rio Games on Saturday.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 13, 2016
Nishikori outlasts Monfils to reach Olympic semifinal showdown with Murray
Kei Nishikori came back from the dead to reach the semifinals at the Rio Olympics after an epic 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 7-6 (8-6) win over France's Gael Monfils on Friday.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 12, 2016
Kaneto victorious in 200-meter breaststroke; Phelps beats Hagino for 22nd gold
Rie Kaneto won gold in the women's 200-meter breaststroke but failed in her mission to break the world record at the Rio Olympics on Thursday night.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 12, 2016
Japan takes fourth in rugby sevens
Japan failed to cap its astonishing run at the Rio Olympic rugby sevens tournament with a medal after losing to Fiji in the semifinals and South Africa in the bronze-medal match on Thursday.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 12, 2016
World rugby bosses hail larger-than-life Olympic sevens tournament
World rugby chiefs have declared the sport's reintroduction to the Olympics a success after fans at Deodoro Stadium made Thursday's final day of the Rio 2016 competition a noisy and colorful affair.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 11, 2016
Uchimura successfully defends all-around title
Kohei Uchimura pulled off a stunning last-gasp victory to retain his men's all-around Olympic gymnastics title at the Rio Games on Wednesday.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 11, 2016
World champ Hoshi settles for bronze in 200 butterfly
Natsumi Hoshi claimed a first swimming medal for Japan's women at the Rio Olympics with bronze in the 200-meter butterfly on Wednesday night.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 10, 2016
Sakai takes silver in 200 butterfly; Phelps claims 20th, 21st gold medals of career
Masato Sakai claimed silver after coming out of nowhere to almost deny Michael Phelps his 20th Olympic gold medal in the men's 200-meter butterfly at the Rio Games on Tuesday.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 10, 2016
World champ Nagase settles for judo bronze on frustrating day for Japan
Japan endured a day of slim pickings on the Rio Olympic judo mat Tuesday as men's 81-kg world champion Takanori Nagase was forced to settle for bronze and Miku Tashiro missed out on a medal entirely in the women's 63-kg competition.

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