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April 05, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
SOCCER / J. League
Apr 1, 2017
Persistent Antlers find a way past Ardija
Shoma Doi scored in the 79th minute as Kashima Antlers finally broke down Omiya Ardija's stubborn resistance to claim a 1-0 win in the J. League on Saturday.
SOCCER / World cup
Mar 29, 2017
Goalkeeper Kawashima comes in from the cold to boost Japan's World Cup bid
Goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima believes he has repaid his manager's faith after returning from the international wilderness to steer Japan closer to a sixth straight World Cup appearance with two clean sheets in two qualifying wins.
SOCCER / World cup
Mar 28, 2017
Kubo plays instrumental role in Japan's rout of Thailand
Man-of the-moment Yuya Kubo scored a goal and set up two more as Japan took a step closer to a sixth straight World Cup appearance with a 4-0 drubbing of Thailand on Tuesday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Mar 22, 2017
Japan playing for high stakes in World Cup double-header
Only one point separates the top four teams at the halfway stage of Japan's final qualifying group for the 2018 World Cup, and the coming week could make or break the Samurai Blue's bid to reach a sixth successive tournament.
U.S. tourist arrested after bringing a handgun into Japan
Hyogo police believe the handgun a U.S. tourist inadvertently brought into Japan slipped through security procedures at Kansai International Airport in Osaka Prefecture.
3D printer used to construct train station building in Japan
A train station building (front) is assembled from parts printed using 3D printer technology, in Arida, Wakayama Prefecture, on Wednesday.
Japan’s leader didn’t read the job description
Prime Minister and ruling Liberal Democratic Party leader Shigeru Ishiba is facing a political funding scandal that has damaged his reputation and sparked speculation that internal efforts to remove him are underway.
Japan promises 'bold and speedy' response to Trump’s surprise 24% tariffs
U.S. President Donald Trump unveils new U.S. tariffs at the White House in Washington on Wednesday.
Tokyo’s KK Line to close for decadelong overhaul as public greenway
People enjoy running and yoga on Tokyo Expressway’s KK Line, a 2-kilometer elevated expressway cutting through the capital’s commercial Ginza district, when it was opened as a pedestrian space in May last year.
Haruki Murakami TV adaptation revisits 30 years of watershed moments
Though Haruki Murakami's trademark whiff of offbeat existentialism is threaded throughout NHK's "After the Quake," the final episode — conceived as a sequel to the story "Super-Frog Saves Tokyo" — is the most stylized, featuring an anthropomorphic talking frog (voiced by Non) and his erstwhile associate Katagiri (Koichi Sato).
Nintendo to launch the Switch 2 on June 5
The controllers for the Switch 2 will attach to the console magnetically rather than sliding on rails as with the original device.
A new human trafficking trend emerges from Myanmar scam centers
Victims of scam centers who were tricked or trafficked into working in Myanmar gather at a compound inside KK Park, a fraud center on the country's border with Thailand, after a multinational crackdown in February.
Meiji says sayonara to bottled milk, a staple of Japan's bathhouses
Meiji bottled milk lined up in a fridge at Kosugiyu, a bathhouse in Tokyo. The sticker urges patrons to enjoy the milk one last time before it’s gone.
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.

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