author

 
 
 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
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.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Aug 19, 2015
Microsoft says Line's popular Rinna character is new way to engage customers
Microsoft is hoping to revolutionize the way that companies use messaging service Line to promote their products, with the help of an artificial intelligence program last seen posing as a high school girl.
Japan Times
Rugby
Aug 16, 2015
Jones confident Japan can improve before Rugby World Cup
Japan coach Eddie Jones believes his side is capable of making the step from Rugby World Cup pretenders to genuine dark horses, but warns time is running out to improve before the tournament kicks off next month in England.
Japan Times
Rugby
Aug 15, 2015
World XV squad overpowers Japan in second half en route to convincing victory
Japan kept pace with a strong World XV side before succumbing in the second half to lose 45-20 in a warmup for the Rugby World Cup on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Aug 12, 2015
Mood turns against Halilhodzic after East Asian Cup debacle
If a scoreless draw with Singapore in Japan's opening World Cup qualifier in May marked the end of manager Vahid Halilhodzic's honeymoon period, last week's East Asian Cup has had critics wishing for a divorce already.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Aug 8, 2015
Okubo rips Halilhodzic on selections
World Cup striker Yoshito Okubo has branded Japan's East Asian Cup squad a bunch of nobodies and is not surprised by the team's dismal showing at the tournament in China.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Aug 6, 2015
Line's AI program captures hearts with lifelike personality
An artificial intelligence program posing as a sweet and innocent schoolgirl has captured the hearts of young men nationwide, with some smitten users even declaring their love for their new "girlfriend."
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 28, 2015
Artist Aida defiant over latest work
Controversial artist Makoto Aida is refusing to bow to demands that he alter a politically sensitive submission to the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo after museum chiefs and Tokyo Metropolitan Government officials deemed it unsuitable for children.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Jul 25, 2015
Okubo brace lifts Frontale past S-Pulse
Yoshito Okubo scored twice as Kawasaki Frontale came through a wild, swinging encounter with Shimizu S-Pulse with a 3-2 win on Saturday night.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Jul 22, 2015
Sanfrecce lay down marker with second-stage surge
The J. League's return to a two-stage system gives teams who started slowly another bite at the championship cherry, but Sanfrecce Hiroshima have bigger ambitions than just the second-stage title.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 18, 2015
National Stadium architects return fire, say design not behind high costs
Zaha Hadid Architects hit back at the decision to scrap their plan for Tokyo's new National Stadium, insisting the ambitious design was not responsible for spiraling construction costs.
Japan Times
SOCCER / Women's World Cup
Jul 7, 2015
Nadeshiko reflect on World Cup journey after return to Japan
Nadeshiko Japan manager Norio Sasaki wasted no time in targeting the gold medal at next year's Rio Olympics as the beaten Women's World Cup finalists returned home from Canada on Tuesday.

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?