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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
Rugby
Nov 2, 2015
Jones signs off with plea for Japan to keep momentum
Outgoing national rugby team coach Eddie Jones bid farewell to Japan on Monday with a warning that the Brave Blossoms must keep winning to make the 2019 Rugby World Cup a success.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Oct 31, 2015
Antlers capture 6th Nabisco Cup
Kashima Antlers lit the touchpaper in the second half to beat Gamba Osaka 3-0 and win the Nabisco Cup for a record sixth time on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Oct 24, 2015
Reds edge FC Tokyo
Urawa Reds stayed neck-and-neck with Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the race for the J. League overall points title after a rip-roaring 4-3 win over FC Tokyo on Saturday.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Oct 22, 2015
Fuji TV announces Japan-first lesbian drama, but attracts criticism for 'outdated' portrayal
Fuji Television has announced a drama series featuring a lesbian love story as its central theme — a first for Japan.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Oct 21, 2015
Internal mistakes behind S-Pulse's fall from J1 ranks
Shimizu S-Pulse's proud uninterrupted record as a J. League first-division team came to an end last weekend, but after years of muddled leadership, the club has no one to blame but itself.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 16, 2015
Tokyo 2020 organizers launch fresh search for Olympic logo
Tokyo 2020 organizers on Friday launched their search for a new Olympic logo with a call for the public to reclaim the games after the original design was scrapped last month following accusations of plagiarism.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 15, 2015
IOC brass gives thumbs up to Tokyo's 2020 efforts
Olympic chiefs have given Tokyo 2020 organizers a vote of confidence, despite a series of missteps that have mired the upcoming games in controversy.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 13, 2015
Brave Blossoms return to hero's welcome
Japan's Rugby World Cup heroes returned home on Tuesday with a vow to continue their new "winning culture" when the country hosts the event in four years' time.
Japan Times
TENNIS
Oct 10, 2015
Paire ousts Nishikori in semis
Defending champion Kei Nishikori crashed out of the Japan Open after a 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 semifinal defeat to his U.S. Open conqueror Benoit Paire on Saturday.
Japan Times
TENNIS
Oct 9, 2015
Nishikori battles past Cilic
Defending champion Kei Nishikori fought back from a set down to reach the Japan Open semifinals after a 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 win over Croatia's Marin Cilic on Friday.
Japan Times
TENNIS
Oct 7, 2015
Nishikori overcomes Querrey for place in quarterfinals
Kei Nishikori tamed big-serving American Sam Querrey 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals of the Japan Open on Wednesday.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 5, 2015
Japan eyes World Cup heroes for Super Rugby's Sunwolves
Japan's new Super Rugby franchise is hoping to ride the wave of the national team's World Cup success when it enters the competition next season.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Oct 3, 2015
Reds, Tosu settle for 1-1 draw
Urawa Reds moved a step closer to the J. League overall points title despite squandering a lead in a 1-1 draw with Sagan Tosu on Saturday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 1, 2015
New sports agency chief Suzuki pledges 'new direction' for 2020 Olympics preparations
Former Olympic swimming champion Daichi Suzuki believes the launch of Japan's new sports agency can help lift the gloom surrounding Tokyo's preparations for the games.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Sep 26, 2015
Reds' Koroki delivers winning strike against Antlers
Shinzo Koroki hit the winner against his former club as Urawa Reds beat Kashima Antlers 2-1 on Saturday to stay two points clear at the top of the overall J. League table.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 16, 2015
Thinking inside the box: Cardboard cubicles offer entertainment, privacy at home
Manufacturers are thinking inside the box to offer stressed-out consumers a personal sanctuary in Japan's notoriously cramped homes.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Sep 4, 2015
Japan took past lessons to heart in win over Cambodia
National team manager Vahid Halilhodzic believes Japan owes Singapore a debt of gratitude for providing the wake-up call that fueled Thursday's World Cup qualifying win over Cambodia.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Sep 3, 2015
Japan overcomes slow start to put away Cambodia
Japan got its 2018 World Cup qualification campaign up and running with a 3-0 win over Cambodia on Thursday night.
Japan Times
Rugby
Aug 30, 2015
Japan looking to draw strength from off-field rugby turmoil
Japan captain Michael Leitch fears that Japanese rugby is in danger of squandering the momentum it has built up in recent years following a harrowing week for the sport.
Japan Times
Rugby
Aug 29, 2015
Japan throttles Uruguay in final home match before Rugby World Cup
Japan wrapped up its home preparations for next month's Rugby World Cup with a morale-boosting 40-0 win over Uruguay on Saturday night.

Longform

Traditional folk rituals like Mizudome-no-mai (dance to stop the rain) provide a sense of agency to a population that feels largely powerless in the face of the climate crisis.
As climate extremes intensify, Japan embraces ancient weather rituals