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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
MORE SPORTS
May 8, 2016
Gatlin keeps focus on Bolt after triumph in Kawasaki
Justin Gatlin geared up his bid to unseat sprint king Usain Bolt at this summer's Rio Olympics with a time of 10.02 seconds to win the 100 meters at the Golden Grand Prix on Sunday.
Japan Times
Rugby
May 7, 2016
Western Force whip Sunwolves
The Sunwolves came crashing back to earth two weeks after their first Super Rugby victory with a 40-22 loss to Australia's Western Force on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
May 7, 2016
Endo aiming for medal in Rio
Urawa Reds defender Wataru Endo is expecting a feisty atmosphere in his first Saitama derby against Omiya Ardija on Sunday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Apr 30, 2016
Antlers fall further back in pursuit of first-stage title
Kashima Antlers lost further ground in the race for the J. League first-stage title after a 0-0 draw with Omiya Ardija on Saturday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 25, 2016
Checkered pattern by artist Tokolo chosen as logo for 2020 Tokyo Olympics
Tokyo 2020 Olympics organizers pick a stark indigo-and-white checkered circle as the games' replacement emblem after the original design was scrapped last year amid claims of plagiarism.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Apr 24, 2016
Urawa moves into first place after knocking Kawasaki off J. League perch
Urawa Reds ended Kawasaki Frontale's unbeaten start to the J. League season and replaced them at the top of the table with a 1-0 win on Sunday.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Apr 15, 2016
Hagino ready to meet Olympic challenge head-on
Japan's Olympic poster boy Kosuke Hagino insists he can handle the pressure of the nation's expectations as he bids for swimming glory at this summer's Rio Games.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Apr 14, 2016
Kaneto, Ikee offer stark contrasts in pursuit of Rio glory
Comeback queen Rie Kaneto is gearing up for an assault on the 200-meter breaststroke world record at this summer's Rio Olympics, but admits she could just as easily have been watching the race on TV instead.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Apr 13, 2016
Early J. League pace-setters lay down title credentials
The J. League season is only six games old, but already the early front-runners have hinted at their championship potential with a series of convincing performances.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Apr 9, 2016
Hagino shatters own 200 IM national mark, secures spot in fourth Rio event
Kosuke Hagino rewrote his own 200-meter individual medley national record Saturday to claim a fourth berth at this summer's Rio Olympics and round off a dominant week at the national championships.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 8, 2016
Japan unveils final four candidates for Tokyo 2020 Olympics logo
Tokyo 2020 Olympics organizers on Friday unveiled a shortlist of four replacement logos after the original design was scrapped last September amid accusations of plagiarism.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 4, 2016
2020 Tokyo Olympics CEO weighs in on security, differences with Rio
The CEO of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics says security is his greatest concern but believes Japan will be safe from the kind of mass street protests currently overshadowing this summer's Rio de Janeiro Games.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Mar 30, 2016
Centurion Okazaki looking for balance after win over Syria
National team striker Shinji Okazaki thanked his teammates for helping him reach 100 caps but warned the hard work is still to come after Japan topped its 2018 World Cup second-round qualifying group with a 5-0 win over Syria on Tuesday.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Mar 29, 2016
Japan clobbers Syria with late onslaught
Japan finished top of its 2018 World Cup second-round qualifying group without conceding a single goal after beating closest challenger Syria 5-0 on Tuesday night.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Mar 25, 2016
Halilhodzic pleased with results from new system
National team manager Vahid Halilhodzic has challenged Japan to make it through the second round of 2018 World Cup qualifiers without conceding a goal after claiming a seventh clean sheet in seven games in Thursday's 5-0 win over Afghanistan.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Mar 24, 2016
Japan thrashes Afghanistan in World Cup qualifier
Japan virtually guaranteed its place in the final round of 2018 World Cup qualifiers with a 5-0 win over Afghanistan on Thursday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Mar 23, 2016
Halilhodzic looking to stoke competition in World Cup qualifiers
Japan should have little trouble clinching its place in the final round of 2018 World Cup qualifiers when it faces Afghanistan and Syria over the coming week, but manager Vahid Halilhodzic will nonetheless be looking to lay down a marker for the year ahead.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Mar 12, 2016
Koroki leads Reds past Avispa
Shinzo Koroki scored a goal in each half to help Urawa Reds get back to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over promoted Avispa Fukuoka on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Mar 5, 2016
Mrdja double carries Ardija past Reysol
J. League second-division champions Omiya Ardija made it two wins out of two in their return to the top flight with a 2-0 victory over Kashiwa Reysol on Saturday.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health
Mar 1, 2016
Company aiming to clear space junk wins funding
A company that aims to clean junk from space has secured up to $30 million (¥3.39 billion) in public-private funding and plans to launch the world's first debris-mapping satellite later this year.

Longform

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