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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
SOCCER / J. League
Sep 29, 2012
Olympic experience had profound impact on Omiya's Higashi
Escaping relegation would be the only thing on the mind of most teams sitting one place above the drop zone with just eight matches left to play, but Omiya Ardija midfielder Keigo Higashi has grander ambitions for his struggling side than mere survival.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Sep 20, 2012
Urawa eyeing immediate reward for improved season
Urawa Reds would have settled for a step in the right direction after escaping relegation by the skin of their teeth last season, but with a first J. League title since 2006 in sight with only nine games left to play, hopes of an unlikely triumph are gathering steam.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Sep 16, 2012
Reds rally for victory against Marinos
Urawa Reds came from behind to ramp up the pressure in the J.League title race with a 2-1 win over Yokohama F. Marinos on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Sep 13, 2012
Zaccheroni keeps focus as Japan eyes early berth
National team manager Alberto Zaccheroni insists he will not be tempted to experiment with his starting lineup over the remainder of Japan's World Cup qualifying program despite all but locking up a place in Brazil with a 1-0 win over Iraq on Tuesday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Sep 12, 2012
Maeda header carries Japan past Iraq
Japan shook off the late withdrawal of injured Manchester United star Shinji Kagawa to beat Iraq 1-0 and move to the brink of qualification for the 2014 World Cup on Tuesday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Sep 6, 2012
Japan looking to maintain high standards as Brazil beckons
Japan can take a giant step toward a fifth consecutive World Cup appearance by beating Iraq in next Tuesday's Brazil 2014 qualifier in Saitama, and if Alberto Zaccheroni's side can come anywhere close to matching its recent performances, the visitors will be in for a rough evening.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Sep 5, 2012
Young Nadeshiko stumbles in U-20 Women's World Cup semifinals
Two-time champion Germany ended Japan's bid to reach the Under-20 Women's World Cup final for the first time with a 3-0 win in Tuesday's semifinal.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Sep 2, 2012
Ardija rally for draw in Saitama derby
Omiya Ardija fought back from a goal down and an early red card to claim an unlikely share of the Saitama derby spoils with a 1-1 draw against Urawa Reds on Saturday night.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Sep 1, 2012
Yokohama defender Kurihara has big ambitions with club and country
Yuzo Kurihara may be suspended for Japan's World Cup qualifier against Iraq this month, but if the Yokohama F. Marinos defender cannot be with his teammates in body, he fully intends to be there in spirit.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Aug 26, 2012
Jubilo display impressive form in win over Reysol
Jubilo Iwata poured cold water on Kashiwa Reysol's attempts to reignite their J.League title challenge while adding fuel to their own ambitions with a 3-0 win over the defending champions on Saturday night.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Aug 23, 2012
Slow and steady rise gives Sanfrecce upper hand in title race
There will be many more twists and turns before this season's J. League title is won, but after opening up a four-point gap at the top of the table, the balance of power is steadily shifting Sanfrecce Hiroshima's way.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Aug 19, 2012
Frontale work for hard-earned draw against Marinos
Kawasaki Frontale produced an inspired second-half performance to claw back a two-goal deficit and claim a 2-2 draw with Yokohama F. Marinos in a frantic Kanagawa derby on Saturday night.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Aug 16, 2012
Olympic achievements cement Japan's place in world game
Japan's men may not have been able to emulate their female counterparts in winning a medal at the London Games, but the performance of both teams has taken the nation's soccer to a new global standing.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Aug 5, 2012
FC Tokyo fights to earn surprising draw against Urawa
FC Tokyo prevented Urawa Reds from making serious headway at the top of the J. League table after clawing back a two-goal halftime deficit to claim a 2-2 draw on Saturday night.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jul 26, 2012
Olympic team well placed to set record straight in London
The odds are stacked against Japan's men winning soccer gold at the London Olympics, but given the talent at manager Takashi Sekizuka's disposal, the possibility of a first medal since 1968 should not be completely discounted.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Jul 21, 2012
Ogasawara learned how sport can inspire in wake of tragedy
Mitsuo Ogasawara has never been a man of many words, but as the J. League takes a break from its normal schedule to host a disaster-relief charity match on Saturday, the Kashima Antlers midfielder is determined to give a voice to those still affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jul 19, 2012
Kagawa ready to rise to challenge as United career begins
Shinji Kagawa made a positive first impression at his unveiling as a Manchester United player last week, but the forward will be keen to replace words with action when he makes his debut for the Premier League giants.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Jul 15, 2012
Vissel earn tie against Ardija
Vissel Kobe continued their revival under manager Akira Nishino as substitute Yuzo Tashiro pounced to claim a 2-2 draw with Omiya Ardija on Saturday.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Jul 13, 2012
Tuneups good tests for Japan teams
Japan Olympic men's soccer team manager Takashi Sekizuka has warned his players their stay in London will be short-lived unless they show more imagination than they did in Wednesday's 1-1 final home warmup draw with New Zealand.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Jul 12, 2012
Nadeshiko Japan outclasses Australia; Japan men draw against New Zealand
Japan's women set off in search of Olympic soccer gold with a spring in their step after beating Australia 3-0 on Wednesday, but their male counterparts were left frustrated after conceding an injury-time equalizer to draw 1-1 with New Zealand in their final home warmup games.
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.
Paris Olympics kick off with rain-soaked — but grandiose — opening ceremony
Japan's 2024 Olympic team moves down the Seine River in Paris during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics on Friday.
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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