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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
May 16, 2013
Kawabuchi reflects on two decades of J. League action
Saburo Kawabuchi, the J. League's first chairman, looks back at the history of the league he helped create 20 years ago.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
May 13, 2013
J. League's opening game stirs memories 20 years on
Players involved in the J. League's first-ever game share their recollections of the beginning of a new era for Japanese soccer.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
May 12, 2013
Reds rally past Antlers as J. League celebrates 20 years
Shinzo Koroki punished his former teammates with a hotly disputed goal as Urawa Reds came from behind to beat Kashima Antlers 3-1 on Saturday night.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
May 9, 2013
Fans, players show class in reaction to serious accident
A serious accident that left two players in the hospital may have cast a pall over Monday's match between Omiya Ardija and Sanfrecce Hiroshima, but the reaction of both sets of fans and players was a credit to the Japanese game.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
May 6, 2013
Reysol striker Kudo targets success at home and abroad
Kashiwa Reysol striker Masato Kudo admits his No. 1 target for the season is to win the Asian Champions League, but that does not mean he is about to give up on the J. League title.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Apr 28, 2013
Aoyama gives Ventforet draw against Marinos
Naoaki Aoyama equalized with the last attack of the game to snatch a point for Ventforet Kofu and deny Yokohama F. Marinos a return to the top of the J.League table with a 1-1 draw on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Apr 25, 2013
Ardija not prepared to fade from memory after day in sun
Omiya Ardija took center stage last Saturday after setting a new J. League record for consecutive unbeaten games, but the unheralded Saitama side can expect plenty more attention if it manages to maintain its impressive start to the season.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Apr 21, 2013
Ardija establish J.League record for consecutive unbeaten games
Omiya Ardija set a new J.League record for consecutive unbeaten games in the sweetest way possible on Saturday, beating fierce local rivals Urawa Reds 1-0 to extend their streak to 18.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Apr 7, 2013
Grampus secures draw against Reysol
Keiji Tamada denied Kashiwa Reysol an unlikely win after playing the entire second half with 10 men as Nagoya Grampus came back to rescue a 3-3 draw in the J.League on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Apr 4, 2013
Marinos turn back time with perfect start to new season
Yokohama F. Marinos may have one of the oldest teams in the J. League, but the three-time champions are aiming to have a vintage year after winning their first four games of the season.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Mar 31, 2013
Ardija hand Antlers first loss of J. League campaign
Omiya Ardija come from behind to end Kashima Antlers' unbeaten start to the J. League season with a 3-1 win on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Mar 30, 2013
FC Tokyo's Lee not lacking confidence as he seeks return to national team
Tadanari Lee is determined to use his loan move from Southampton to FC Tokyo as a springboard to return to the national team, but club manager Ranko Popovic has warned his new striker not to try too hard to impress.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup / SOCCER SCENE
Mar 21, 2013
Strength in depth gives Japan chance to clinch World Cup place
National team manager Alberto Zaccheroni will be without two of his most important players when Japan attempts to book its ticket to the 2014 World Cup against Jordan next Tuesday, but the Italian still has enough quality in reserve to get the job done.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Mar 16, 2013
Striker Davi looking to continue Brazilian success at Kashima
New Kashima Antlers striker Davi has wasted little time in making an impact at the seven-time J. League champions, but the Brazilian will not be satisfied until he has stamped his name on club history forever.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Mar 10, 2013
Ugajin sends Reds to second consecutive triumph to start season
Urawa Reds maintained their strong start to the new J.League season with a 1-0 win over Nagoya Grampus on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Mar 7, 2013
Tradition there to be broken as new season gets started
The start of the 2013 J. League season last Saturday brought with it the chance for a new beginning, but some teams were more determined than others to break with tradition on the opening day.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Mar 3, 2013
Marquinhos scores twice as Marinos rally past Bellmare
Yokohama F. Marinos spoiled Shonan Bellmare's return to the J. League first division with a late comeback for a 4-2 win as the 2013 season got under way on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / 2013 J. LEAGUE PREVIEW
Mar 2, 2013
Hiroshima, Sendai won't contend for title
Highlighting the top nine finishers from the J. League last season in the second part of this two-day preview.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / 2013 J. LEAGUE PREVIEW
Mar 1, 2013
Tokyo, Antlers hoping to climb ladder
FC Tokyo leads a host of teams looking to improve their fortunes during the 2013 J.u2009League campaign.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Feb 28, 2013
Cerezo on familiar ground after return to Antlers hot seat
Just over seven years have passed since Toninho Cerezo ended his first glittering reign as Kashima Antlers manager, but after returning to the club for a second stint, the Brazilian is pleased to find that not everything has changed in his absence.

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