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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
PARALYMPICS / Summer Paralympics
May 28, 2017
Wheelchair rugby ready to crash Tokyo 2020 party
Japan's No. 7 catches the ball but before he has time to react, a hulking, tattooed Australian is bearing down on him.
Japan Times
Rugby
May 27, 2017
Cheetahs blow out Sunwolves
The Sunwolves failed to pick up their second win of the Super Rugby season on Saturday after a 47-7 defeat to South Africa's Cheetahs.
Japan Times
Rugby
May 26, 2017
McCaw hopes to inspire kids with charity work in Japan
All Blacks legend Richie McCaw kicked off a four-day charity tour of Japan on Friday and vowed to bring a smile to the faces of children affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
May 24, 2017
Latest leaders Gamba trying to hold position
Top spot in the J. League has changed hands with every weekend so far this May, but Gamba Osaka will be hoping to make their lead stick after taking over in first place last Saturday.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
May 19, 2017
Kanagawa woman finds success in crowdfunding matchmaking quest
A Kanagawa woman who started a crowdfunding project last year to bankroll her search for a husband is on course to reap the ultimate dividend.
Japan Times
Rugby
May 17, 2017
Sunwolves stay positive despite steep learning curve
The Sunwolves may have won only one game out of 10 so far this season, but Japan's Super Rugby team is confident that its efforts will pay off somewhere down the line.
Japan Times
Rugby
May 11, 2017
All Blacks open to scheduling match in Japan to get ready for Rugby World Cup
New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen hinted Wednesday that the All Blacks could play a match in Japan before they defend their title here at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Japan Times
Rugby
May 11, 2017
England boss Jones embraces challenge of tough Pool C
England coach Eddie Jones laughed off suggestions that his team has been drawn in a 2019 Rugby World Cup "Group of Death" after being paired with France and Argentina in Pool C on Wednesday.
Japan Times
Rugby
May 10, 2017
Japan drawn with Ireland, Scotland for 2019 Rugby World Cup
Host nation Japan was drawn to face Ireland, Scotland and two teams yet to qualify in the group stage of the 2019 Rugby World Cup at a lavish ceremony at Kyoto State Guest House on Wednesday.
Japan Times
Rugby
May 10, 2017
Japan coach Joseph ready to hit ground running in preparation for 2019 Rugby World Cup
Japan rugby head coach Jamie Joseph is keen to get a first-hand look at his 2019 Rugby World Cup rivals when the Brave Blossoms play Ireland in two test matches in June.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
May 6, 2017
Kashiwa Reysol edge Cerezo Osaka for fourth win in a row
Kashiwa Reysol picked up their fourth straight J. League win after a fluke goal by Brazilian striker Cristiano handed them a 1-0 victory over Cerezo Osaka on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
May 4, 2017
Antlers continue mastery of Reds with shutout victory
Defending J. League champions Kashima Antlers returned to the scene of last season's title triumph to haunt Urawa Reds with a 1-0 win on Thursday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Apr 30, 2017
Ardija shock Reds in derby to end winless spell
Akimi Barada scored in the 63rd minute as rock-bottom Omiya Ardija stunned J. League-leading local rivals Urawa Reds with a 1-0 win on Sunday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 26, 2017
Japan's Olympics and Rugby World Cup organizers pledge cooperation to ensure successful sporting events
Organizers of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and 2019 Rugby World Cup on Wednesday signed a collaboration agreement that they hope will smooth preparations for Japan's hosting of the two sporting mega-events.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 26, 2017
Pachinko industry raises money for low-income students, but critics call it a marketing stunt
The pachinko industry is urging customers to donate steel balls from their winnings to help put hard-up students through university.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Apr 22, 2017
Rapid first-half scoring propels Reysol past Marinos
Kashiwa Reysol blitzed Yokohama F. Marinos with two goals in the space of two first-half minutes to claim a 2-0 win in the J. League on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Apr 16, 2017
Golden oldie Miura continuing to surprise teammates
Evergreen striker Kazuyoshi Miura may have failed to extend his record as the world's oldest goal-scorer on Saturday, but his Yokohama FC teammates believe no other player will ever match his achievements.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Apr 12, 2017
J. League heavyweights make flying start to season
Vissel Kobe may have emerged as the surprise early leader in the J. League this season, but the chasing pack behind them already has a very familiar look.
Japan Times
Rugby
Apr 8, 2017
Sunwolves rally for first victory of Super Rugby season
Yu Tamura landed a penalty with five minutes remaining as the Sunwolves came from behind to beat the Bulls 21-20 on Saturday to claim their first win of the Super Rugby season.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Apr 5, 2017
Utaka eager to strike up bonds at FC Tokyo
FC Tokyo striker Peter Utaka admits he is pinching himself at the thought of playing alongside all-time J. League top scorer Yoshito Okubo as the capital city club goes in search of its first-ever title.
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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