author

 
Menu
Search
 
September 27, 2024
 

Today's print edition

Home Delivery
Subscribe for more access
Andrew MCKIRDY

Meta

Twitter

@Andrew_McKirdy

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 / Women's World Cup
Jul 12, 2023
Fukushima-born Jun Endo ready to run free for Japan at World Cup
The Angel City forward recalls watching the 2011 final in the middle of the night with her parents and three siblings, describing it as 'a turning point' in her life.
Japan Times
Rugby
Jun 20, 2023
Ethnic Korean Lee Seung-sin hopes to set example in Japan's RWC squad
The fly-half was among 36 players named in Japan's test squad as Jamie Joseph begins his preparations for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Jun 13, 2023
Speed demons: the 'uriko' beer vendors of Japanese baseball
At Tokyo Dome, vendors sell an average of about 20,000 glasses of beer at a night game.
Japan Times
Rugby
Jun 12, 2023
Jamie Joseph confident Brave Blossoms' style can give England trouble at Rugby World Cup
Joseph, who led Japan to the quarterfinals in 2019, says his team can 'achieve anything.'
Japan Times
Rugby
May 21, 2023
Spears' Bernard Foley stakes World Cup claim with League One title
The 33-year-old is vying with several players including Quade Cooper, Ben Donaldson, Carter Gordon and Noah Lolesio for the Wallabies' No. 10 shirt.
Japan Times
Rugby
May 9, 2023
Faf de Klerk says Springboks motivated to 'prove world wrong'
The feisty scrum-half believes the underdog tag fits the fourth-ranked defending world champions ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Apr 27, 2023
Urawa and Al Hilal ready to finally meet for Asian Champions League title
The winter World Cup in Qatar and travel complications caused by COVID-19 mean Asian soccer has yet to crown its 2022 champion more than a year after the competition began.
Japan Times
LIFE
Apr 25, 2023
Gaudy cartoon cars turn heads in Japan
Perceptions of 'itasha,' cars covered in gaudy images of anime and manga characters, have begun to change, with hobby subcultures gaining a new mainstream acceptance in Japan.
Japan Times
LIFE
Mar 7, 2023
Living doll: Licca-chan casts a spell on Japan's adults
Some adult fans of the toy have formed an online community where they can swap homemade garments and accessories.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Feb 17, 2023
Tokyo approves plan to demolish historic Jingu Stadium despite public outcry
Jingu Stadium is one of only four stadiums where Babe Ruth played that still exists.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Feb 14, 2023
How Kaoru Mitoma studied his way to Premier League stardom
The Samurai Blue winger developed his dribbling skills while completing a four-year physical education degree at Japan's University of Tsukuba.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Feb 7, 2023
'Captain Tsubasa' creator aiming for real-life soccer success
Takahashi has played a big part in helping soccer culture take root in Japan, and believes there is room for it to grow further.
Japan Times
Rugby
Jan 26, 2023
England's Launchbury says more players could move to Japan
The 31-year-old lock left stricken English giants Wasps in November to sign a one-season deal with Toyota Verblitz.
Japan Times
TENNIS
Jan 9, 2023
Naomi Osaka's withdrawal from Australian Open raises questions about star's future
Tennis writer Ben Rothenberg, who has authored a biography of Osaka due out later this year, believes she has already taken a 'meaningful step back' from the sport.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Dec 14, 2022
Bantamweight king Naoya Inoue eyes step up after beating Paul Butler
'This is not the goal,' said the 29-year-old Inoue, who is widely expected to bulk up to the super-bantamweight division.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Dec 4, 2022
Japan super-sub Ritsu Doan aims to sink Croatia
The Freiburg winger would become the first Japanese player to score three goals at a single World Cup if he scores on Monday, but his focus is on helping his team reach the quarterfinals.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Nov 28, 2022
Japan captain Maya Yoshida thinks team can still reach knockout stage
Yoshida said Japan struggled to come down from the high of beating Germany in their opening game and found it 'difficult' to prepare for Costa Rica
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Nov 24, 2022
Hajime Moriyasu praises Japan's European education after upset win against Germany
Eight members of Japan's squad are based in Germany and it was two of those players who scored the goals that sealed a historic victory for the Asian side.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 30, 2022
Ian Foster calls for cool heads after All Blacks beat Japan
New Zealand conceded four tries and lost lock Brodie Retallick to a red card against a spirited Japanese side that trailed by only four points heading into the final minutes.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Oct 11, 2022
Hideki Matsuyama shuns LIV, commits to PGA on eve of Zozo defense
The PGA Tour has banned LIV golfers from competing in their events and world No. 19 Matsuyama said he had no intention of joining the rebel circuit.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In need of rice and some Japanese words that describe necessity
A farmer harvests rice in a paddy field in Tamba-Sasayama, Hyogo Prefecture, last month.
Does Sanae Takaichi have a real shot at becoming Japan's first female leader?
Economic security minister Sanae Takaichi, a candidate in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s presidential election, speaks during a debate in Tokyo on Sept. 14.

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

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Azabudai Hills, Tokyo’s green new downtown ‘village’
Azabudai Hills, Tokyo’s green new downtown ‘village’

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS note

Read more

SUPPLEMENTS BINDER