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July 28, 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
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.
Japan Times
TENNIS
Oct 3, 2022
Nick Kyrgios excited to be at Japan Open as court case looms at home
The 27-year-old Wimbledon finalist is due to have his case heard at a magistrates' court in Canberra on the same day he is scheduled to play in Tokyo.
Japan Times
Rugby
Sep 8, 2022
Jamie Joseph says Japan will tone down swashbuckling style at upcoming Rugby World Cup
Joseph believes the Brave Blossoms can reach another RWC quarterfinal if they get their preparations right.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Aug 22, 2022
Ygor Coelho encouraging Brazilians to dance to rhythm of badminton
The world No. 51 has established himself in the badminton world and says more people in his soccer-mad nation are aiming to follow in his footsteps.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Aug 21, 2022
Uneasy Kento Momota eyes third badminton world title in Tokyo
Despite dismal form so far this year, the 27-year-old hopes that home support can help him upset the odds and claim a third title when the world championships begin on Monday.
Japan's population continues to fall even as foreign resident count rises
The number of residents in Tokyo as of Jan. 1 rose by 0.03% from a year before, data shows, marking a year-on-year increase for the first time in three years, while the country's other 46 prefectures saw their populations continue to decline.
Ahead of the Olympics, Japan is still talking about the gymnast who won't be there
Japan's Shoko Miyata withdrew from the gymnastics team herself over her drinking and smoking, although it had already appeared as though the association was prepared to send her home from the team’s training camp in Monaco.
Yen melt-up nudges Japanese stocks into correction territory
Japanese stocks are down 10% from their July peak as the yen strengthens.
‘Crazy’ yen rally is at risk of shattering as soon as Wednesday
Some investors are warning that a yen rally is fragile, as was on show this week when the yen rapidly retraced an advance after Thursday’s stronger-than-expected U.S. economic growth figures.
Japan's average life expectancy rises for first time in three years
A decline in COVID-19-caused deaths likely helped boost the average life expectancy for Japanese men and women to rise for the first time in three years in 2023.
The Japanese Olympians looking to shine in Paris
Rim Nakamura, who is attempting to win Japan's first Olympic gold medal in cycling, will be one of the top Japanese athletes to watch at the Paris Games.
Japan’s minimum wage set for record ¥50 hike in major boost
Demonstrators rally to demand a big hike in minimum wages in Tokyo last week.
Japan loses top spot on strongest passport list to Singapore
Japan had the strongest passport for six years running from 2018, before being dethroned by Singapore on the 2024 list.
Why Japan's mysterious stash of classified funds escapes scrutiny
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi (right) during a meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Japan eyes gold — and the future — as Olympic men's soccer campaign begins
Japan midfielder Yu Hirakawa controls the ball during a match against the United States in Kansas City, Kansas, on June 11.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

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
By Alex K.T. Martin

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JNTO promotes sustainable tourism initiatives

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