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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
Nov 9, 2016
Fukushima eyed for baseball, softball games in 2020 Olympics
Tokyo 2020 Olympic organizers on Wednesday gave the green light for disaster-affected Fukushima Prefecture to host baseball and softball games.
Japan Times
Rugby
Nov 5, 2016
Argentina pummels Brave Blossoms in Joseph's debut
Japan lost 54-20 to Argentina on Saturday to deny Jamie Joseph a winning start to his reign as Brave Blossoms manager.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Nov 3, 2016
Reds clinch top spot in J. League table despite draw with F. Marinos
Urawa Reds booked their place in the J. League Championship title match after drawing 1-1 with Yokohama F. Marinos on Thursday to finish top of the overall table.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Nov 2, 2016
Four teams battling to avoid drop on final day of J. League regular season
While Urawa Reds and Kawasaki Frontale battle to clinch the top seed for the J. League Championship on the final day of the regular season on Thursday, a more decisive tussle will be going on at the other end of the table.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Oct 29, 2016
Frontale keep pressure on Reds
Kawasaki Frontale ensured that the race for the J. League Championship top seed will go down to the final day of the regular season after a 1-0 win over Kashima Antlers on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Oct 26, 2016
Stress-free Nakamura eyes title for Frontale
Kawasaki Frontale playmaker Kengo Nakamura has credited a newfound selfish streak for his resurgent form this season and is hoping to ride it all the way to the club's first J. League title.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Oct 21, 2016
WADA chief Reedie calls on Abe to provide more funding to fight doping
World Anti-Doping Agency President Craig Reedie challenged Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to put his money where his mouth is and increase Japan's funding in the fight against doping on Friday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 21, 2016
Tokyo governor vows to use 2020 Games to tackle demands of graying society
Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike vowed Friday to use the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics to create a city that can cope with the demands of a rapidly aging population.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 20, 2016
Four-time Olympic gold medal-winner Icho awarded People's Honor
Four-time Olympic gold medal-winning wrestler Kaori Icho was awarded the People's Honor Award by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 20, 2016
IOC chief Bach vows 'very significant reduction' in cost of Tokyo 2020 Games
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach vowed Thursday to produce "a very significant reduction in costs" for the 2020 Tokyo Games, which he predicts will bring "a transformational moment for all of Japan."
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 19, 2016
IOC president rejects Koike's calls to expand new Olympic cost-cutting group
Thomas Bach turns aside the Tokyo governor's suggestion to expand a group set up Tuesday to review rising costs for the games.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Oct 15, 2016
Reds capture J. League Cup
Urawa Reds claimed their first trophy since 2007 after beating Gamba Osaka 5-4 on penalties to lift the J. League Cup following a 1-1 draw in Saturday's final.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 14, 2016
Rugby chief fears Olympics leaving 2019 World Cup in shade
World Rugby chief Brett Gosper admits he is concerned that the 2020 Tokyo Olympics are shunting the 2019 Rugby World Cup into the shadows just three years before Japan hosts the event.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 12, 2016
Miyagi governor bullish on hosting Olympic events
The prefecture's leader, despite a u2018negative' meeting with the 2020 Games' organizing committee, expresses confidence.
Japan Times
TENNIS
Oct 9, 2016
Kyrgios overcomes rough start against Goffin en route to Japan Open title
Big-serving Australian Nick Kyrgios came back from a set down to capture the Japan Open title with a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 win over Belgium's David Goffin in Sunday's final.
Japan Times
TENNIS
Oct 8, 2016
Goffin, Kyrgios roll into Japan Open final
Belgium's David Goffin set up a Japan Open final showdown with Australian Nick Kyrgios after beating Croatia's Marin Cilic 7-5, 6-4 in Saturday's semifinal.
Japan Times
TENNIS
Oct 7, 2016
Crafty Kyrgios conquers Muller, advances to Japan Open semis
Australian world No. 15 Nick Kyrgios showcased the full range of his mercurial talents to reach the Japan Open semifinals with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Luxembourg's Gilles Muller on Friday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 7, 2016
800,000 people crowd Tokyo to celebrate Olympians, Paralympians
An estimated 800,000 spectators thronged the streets of Tokyo on Friday to celebrate Japan's Rio Olympic and Paralympic medal-winning athletes in an open-top parade.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Oct 7, 2016
Halilhodzic toasts Japan after dramatic win over Iraq
National team manager Vahid Halilhodzic believes his players "deserve two glasses of champagne" after Thursday's dramatic 2-1 World Cup-qualifying win over Iraq, but warned they will have to sharpen up at set pieces before they take on Australia on Tuesday.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Oct 6, 2016
Birthday boy Yamaguchi lifts Japan with dramatic late goal against Iraq
Substitute Hotaru Yamaguchi volleyed in an injury-time winner to jolt Japan's bid to reach a sixth straight World Cup into life with a 2-1 victory over Iraq on Thursday.

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