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April 02, 2025
 

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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.
SOCCER / World cup
Jul 5, 2018
Nishino to pass torch as manager
National team manager Akira Nishino predicted Thursday that Japan will improve on its 2018 World Cup performance by reaching the quarterfinals in 2022, but he will not be around to lead the charge after the Japan Football Association announced it would not extend his contract past the end of this month....
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jul 3, 2018
Despite disappointing departure, Samurai Blue exceeded expectations at World Cup
Japan's exit from the World Cup on Monday was soccer at its cruelest, but once the dust has settled the team will be able to look back on its campaign with pride and satisfaction.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jun 29, 2018
Nishino made right call for Samurai Blue to advance
It was not pretty, but Japan did what was necessary to survive at the World Cup. If the Samurai Blue can make history by beating Belgium on Monday to reach the quarterfinals for the first time, the rather undignified end to Thursday's 1-0 loss to Poland will be long forgotten.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jun 25, 2018
Japan's conviction growing stronger with each step at World Cup
A World Cup campaign that threatened to be an ordeal for Japan is turning into one of steadily growing conviction. If the Samurai Blue can produce another performance like Sunday's 2-2 draw with Senegal, a place in the knockout round will be theirs for the taking.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jun 20, 2018
Early present helps Japan claim perfect start to World Cup campaign
An opening win that few saw coming has given Japan the perfect start to its World Cup campaign, but there will be further hurdles to clear if the team is to book its place in the knockout round.
Japan Times
Rugby
Jun 16, 2018
Fan excitement gaining momentum for 2019 Rugby World Cup
Rugby fans in Kobe believe excitement is growing ahead of next year's Rugby World Cup, with the national team's first-ever test match in the city on Saturday helping to turn up the volume.
Japan Times
Rugby
Jun 16, 2018
Italy holds off Brave Blossoms
Japan fell just short of a second straight win over Italy despite a furious second-half fightback on Saturday in a 25-22 defeat to the Azzurri in the first rugby test match ever to be played in Kobe.
Japan Times
Rugby
Jun 14, 2018
Tournament director Alan Gilpin confident 2019 Rugby World Cup organizers will be ready for extravaganza
The tournament director of the 2019 Rugby World Cup admitted Thursday that Japan's 12 host cities have yet to fully grasp the scale of the event but expressed confidence that they will be able to cope when an estimated 400,000 overseas fans arrive in 15 months' time.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 13, 2018
Russia awaits as stars get ready to battle for World Cup
The World Cup kicks off on Thursday (midnight Friday, Japan time) in Russia, marking the tournament's return to Europe for the first time since 2006. Thirty-two teams will compete over the next month for a place in the final at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium on July 15.
Japan Times
SOCCER
May 31, 2018
Nishino reveals 23-man squad for World Cup
National team manager Akira Nishino named his 23-man squad for next month's World Cup in Russia on Thursday and targeted at least a draw from each of Japan's first-round games against Colombia, Senegal and Poland.
SOCCER
May 30, 2018
Ghana outclasses Japan as Akira Nishino endures disappointing first match in charge
New national team manager Akira Nishino was handed a stark reminder of the task he faces at next month's World Cup after Japan lost 2-0 to Ghana on Wednesday in its final warmup match on home soil.
Japan Times
SOCCER
May 29, 2018
Japan boss Akira Nishino hoping friendly against Ghana will ease his World Cup roster decisions
National team manager Akira Nishino expects to agonize over his World Cup selections right up until he names his 23-man squad on Thursday but hopes Wednesday's friendly match against Ghana will provide some answers.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
May 24, 2018
Vissel sign ex-Barcelona star Andres Iniesta to massive deal
J. League club Vissel Kobe on Thursday announced the audacious signing of World Cup-winning former Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta in a deal reported to be worth over ¥3 billion a year.
SOCCER / J. League
May 19, 2018
F. Marinos battle past V-Varen
Yokohama F. Marinos hit V-Varen Nagasaki with a second-half blitz to head into the J. League's World Cup shutdown on a high with a 5-2 win on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER
May 18, 2018
Akira Nishino names Keisuke Honda, Shinji Kagawa, Shinji Okazaki in squad for Ghana match
New national team manager Akira Nishino handed Keisuke Honda, Shinji Kagawa and Shinji Okazaki a World Cup lifeline on Friday when he named all three in his 27-man squad for Japan's final game before he chooses his roster for next month's tournament in Russia.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
May 16, 2018
Little time for Akira Nishino to choose World Cup squad
While coaches all around the globe are putting the finishing touches to their squads for the World Cup this week, Akira Nishino will be making his first selection as Japan manager.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
May 12, 2018
War games: Examining the fascination with recreational airsoft combat games in Japan
I know that scores of heavily armed people are out there lying in wait to shoot me, but I can't see them.
Japan Times
Rugby
May 12, 2018
Sunwolves rout Reds for first win of season
The Sunwolves picked up their first win of the Super Rugby season in barnstorming style with a 63-28 demolition of the Reds on Saturday.
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
May 9, 2018
Amazing transformation puts Sanfrecce firmly in driver's seat
No one who watched Sanfrecce Hiroshima barely avoid relegation last season could have imagined that they would top the J. League table after 13 games of the 2018 campaign.
SOCCER / J. League
May 5, 2018
Kosuke Ota sparks FC Tokyo in victory over Kawasaki Frontale
Kosuke Ota produced two free kick assists as FC Tokyo kept up its strong J. League form with a 2-0 win over defending champions Kawasaki Frontale on Saturday.
As ‘Buy Canadian’ grows, more U.S. firms say retailers turning away products
Empty shelves with "Buy Canadian Instead" signs are seen in the American Whiskey section of the BC Liquor in Vancouver, British Columbia, on March 10.
Japan, South Korea and China vow to strengthen trade ties amid looming U.S. tariffs
Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yoji Muto (left), South Korean Trade Industry and Energy Minister Ahn Duk-geun (center) and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao during a trilateral meeting in Seoul on Sunday
A Canadian made a weekend trip to Costco a Japanese pastime
Under the watchful eye of Ken Theriault, Costco representative director and Japan country manager, the American membership-model wholesaler has flourished in Japan.
Nankai Trough earthquake could kill 298,000 people, government says
Residents participate in an evacuation drill held with West Japan Railway in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, in January 2024 to prepare for a Nankai Trough earthquake and a possible tsunami following the quake.
Osaka Expo's Japan Pavilion completed
A ceremony is held to mark the completion of the Japan Pavilion at the World Expo in Osaka on Saturday.
On defense, Japan may avoid Trump's worst impulses — for now
Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth chat after reviewing an honor guard during a welcome ceremony at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on Sunday.
No longer a 'bridesmaid': Yuki Tsunoda prepares for the Red Bull pressure cooker
All eyes will be on Yuki Tsunoda as he makes his Red Bull debut at the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend.
A Canadian made a weekend trip to Costco a Japanese pastime
Under the watchful eye of Ken Theriault, Costco representative director and Japan country manager, the American membership-model wholesaler has flourished in Japan.
Tokyo tech failures lean into misfortune, mistakes and missteps
Tsuyoshi Domoto in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward on March 28. As an entrepreneur, Domoto experienced plenty of setbacks but maintains a positive attitude and continues to pursue his dreams.
Who among the opposition would join the ruling coalition?
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba enters his office in Tokyo on Friday.

Podcast

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

Longform

Professional cleaner Hirofumi Sakurai takes a moment to appreciate some photographs in a Gotanda apartment whose occupant died alone.
The last cleanup: Life and death in a lonely Japan
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