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November 24, 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
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jul 2, 2010
Japan impressed despite falling short of Okada's goal
In the end, national team manager Takeshi Okada got neither the semifinal he craved nor the quarterfinal that looked there for the taking. When the dust settles on Japan's 2010 World Cup campaign, however, the overall feeling will be one of pride rather than regret.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jun 27, 2010
Victory over Denmark gives Japan inspiration
On a night when a positive result was more important than a positive performance, Japan emphatically delivered both.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jun 22, 2010
Attack as well as defense needed to secure qualification
Japan's disappointment at losing to the Netherlands on Saturday was understandable, but Thursday's final group game against Denmark was always going to be the one that mattered most. With only a point now needed to secure qualification for the knockout phase, Takeshi Okada's side stands on the verge...
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jun 17, 2010
Bold changes rewarded as Okada gets team tactics right
Japan's hard-boiled victory over Cameroon on Monday was never going to win Takeshi Okada's side any new friends, but confidence, respect and three crucial points are a far more valuable reward.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 10, 2010
World Cup gets ready for kickoff
The World Cup breaks new ground on Friday as the world's top soccer tournament will be held in Africa for the first time. South Africa plays host to the monthlong competition, where 32 teams will compete for a place in the final in Johannesburg on July 11.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jun 3, 2010
Battling performance leaves Nakamura's place in doubt
After the trauma of last week's defeat to South Korea, Japan salvaged some much-needed confidence — if not a result — against England. But if manager Takeshi Okada decides to stick with the revamped formation that served him so well on Sunday, where does that leave Shunsuke Nakamura?
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
May 27, 2010
Okada's moment of weakness sets worst possible example
Whether Takeshi Okada's offer to resign as national team manager immediately after this week's defeat to South Korea was serious or merely a gesture of apology, the effect is still the same: The growing sense that Japan is heading for World Cup humiliation has now been endorsed by the team's own leader....
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
May 26, 2010
Okada denies he offered to resign
National team manager Takeshi Okada insists he did not offer to resign in the immediate aftermath of Japan's 2-0 defeat to South Korea on Monday night.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
May 25, 2010
Japan stumbles in World Cup tuneup
SAITAMA — South Korea sent Japan off to the World Cup with plenty to think about after a 2-0 defeat on Monday night.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
May 20, 2010
S-Pulse beating strong going into World Cup break
Shimizu S-Pulse's momentum may have faded in recent weeks, but manager Kenta Hasegawa has plenty to smile about as his side heads into the two-month World Cup shutdown on top of the J. League.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
May 18, 2010
Technology fuels Japan's 2022 bid
Japan is banking on its reputation for technological innovation to win hosting rights for the 2022 World Cup.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
May 13, 2010
No room for sentiment as Okada separates men from boys
In the end it was simply a matter of fine-tuning for national team manager Takeshi Okada as he named a familiar squad for the World Cup on Monday. Of the few rabbits he did pull out of the hat, however, Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi should be regarded as anything but a sentimental choice.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
May 11, 2010
Kawaguchi returns as Okada announces World Cup squad
Veteran goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi and striker Kisho Yano were the biggest surprises in an otherwise familiar selection as national team manager Takeshi Okada named his squad for the World Cup on Monday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
May 9, 2010
J. League's Australians keeping fingers crossed for World Cup callup
National team manager Takeshi Okada will end months of speculation when he names his World Cup squad on Monday, but for some J. League players hoping to make it to South Africa the wait must go on for one more day.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
May 7, 2010
Stojkovic criticizes players after loss to Reds
SAITAMA — Nagoya Grampus manager Dragan Stojkovic blasted his team's "lack of intelligence" after letting a halftime lead slip in Wednesday's 2-1 defeat to Urawa Reds, holding himself up as the model for his players to aspire to.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
May 2, 2010
Nozawa spearheads Antlers to victory over rival Gamba
KASHIMA, Ibaraki Pref. — Takuya Nozawa scored with a picture-perfect free kick as Kashima Antlers maintained their stranglehold over J. League rival Gamba Osaka with a 2-1 win on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
May 1, 2010
Hirayama philosophical about World Cup chances
If Cameroon, the Netherlands and Denmark think they know what to expect from Japan at this summer's World Cup, one glance at Sota Hirayama should be enough to change their minds.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Apr 29, 2010
World Cup squad taking shape ahead of May 10 decision
With national team manager Takeshi Okada set to name his World Cup squad on May 10, Soccer Scene takes a look at the candidates. Names in bold are those predicted to make the final 23-man roster:
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Apr 25, 2010
Antlers return to form in win over Marinos
YOKOHAMA — Kashima Antlers shook off an indifferent run of form and got back to winning ways with a stylish 3-1 victory over Yokohama F. Marinos on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Apr 22, 2010
Time will tell if Reds revival is strong enough to last
Urawa Reds manager Volker Finke declared his side was "moving in the right direction" after Sunday's 3-0 hammering of Kawasaki Frontale, and while evidence on the pitch certainly backed him up, after last season's astonishing summer collapse it might be wiser to reserve judgment.
U.S. aircraft carrier returns to Japan carrying navy’s ‘most capable fighter’
U.S. 7th Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Fred Kacher speaks to reporters shortly after the arrival of aircraft carrier USS George Washington at Yokosuka naval base in Kanagawa Prefecture on Friday.
Japan approves ¥21.9 trillion stimulus plan
The policy chiefs of the Democratic Party for the People, Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito — Makoto Hamaguchi (left), Itsunori Onodera (center) and Mitsunari Okamoto — shake hands after reaching an agreement on an economic stimulus package on Wednesday.
Japan will spend ¥325 million in government funds on Princess Yuriko's funeral
Princess Yuriko waves during the New Year's public greeting at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo in January 2019.
MUFG fires worker over ¥2 billion theft from clients’ safe deposit boxes
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group is investigating the incident and consulting with the police.
China reinstates visa-free travel for Japanese nationals
Beijing Daxing International Airport
Shohei Ohtani wins National League MVP award
Shohei Ohtani celebrates after hitting a three-run home run against the Padres during the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles last month.
The slow-burn success of ‘A Samurai in Time’
A 19th-century warrior gets struck by lightning and wakes to find himself in 21st-century Kyoto in Junichi Yasuda’s surprise hit “A Samurai in Time.”
Around a quarter of Japan married couples in their 20s met through dating apps
A survey released by an organization promoting “Good Couples Day” shows that 24% of couples in their 20s met their marriage partner through a dating app.
'Tokyo Swindlers': Get deep into the minds of real estate con artists
In Ko Shinjo's "Tokyo Swindlers," a group of con artists manipulates real estate giants into falsified deals within the highly competitive, quick market.
Japan, U.K. and Italy discuss inviting more countries to joint fighter project
A new concept model of a next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by Japan, Britain and Italy is on display in Farnborough, Hampshire, in July.

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