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November 21, 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.
Collin Morikawa receives the winner's trophy after the final round of the Zozo Championship in Inzai, Chiba Prefecture, on Sunday.
MORE SPORTS / Golf
Oct 22, 2023
Collin Morikawa cruises to Zozo Championship title
The two-time major winner was playing his first tournament since being part of the American team that failed to retain the Ryder Cup in Rome.
Japan's Yoshino Nakashima scores a goal during the team's victory over North Korea on Friday in the gold medal match at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
SOCCER
Oct 7, 2023
Team Japan defies crowd to top North Korea for Asian Games soccer gold
The crowd in the Chinese city of Hangzhou was overwhelmingly in North Korea's favor and booed the Japanese players when they went on the attack.
Squash officials have attempted to make the sport more accessible to viewers in a push for Olympic recognition.
OLYMPICS
Oct 3, 2023
Squash desperate to end 'very weird' Olympic exile in 2028
Squash is one of nine sports vying for a place at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, along with the likes of cricket, lacrosse and motorsports.
Germany's Dennis Schroder lifts the trophy after his team's win over Serbia in the Basketball World Cup final in Manila on Sunday.
BASKETBALL
Sep 11, 2023
'Team-first' mentality carries Germany to first Basketball World Cup title
Both Germany and Serbia had already qualified for next year's Paris Olympics as the World Cup's two highest-placed European teams.
Japan center Dylan Riley (left) escapes from Italy's center Luca Morisi during a match on Aug. 26.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Aug 31, 2023
Japan ready to shake off COVID-19 legacy at Rugby World Cup
The Brave Blossoms beat Ireland and Scotland to reach the quarterfinals for the first time four years ago, sparking rugby-mania across the nation.
Japan Times
SOCCER / Women's World Cup
Jul 21, 2023
Nadeshiko Japan's Women's World Cup glory now distant memory as nation lags far behind rivals
Japan begins its latest World Cup campaign against Zambia on Saturday, but is ranked 11th now and no longer among the favorites.
Japan Times
SOCCER / Women's World Cup
Jul 12, 2023
Fukushima-born Jun Endo ready to run free for Japan at World Cup
The Angel City forward recalls watching the 2011 final in the middle of the night with her parents and three siblings, describing it as 'a turning point' in her life.
Japan Times
Rugby
Jun 20, 2023
Ethnic Korean Lee Seung-sin hopes to set example in Japan's RWC squad
The fly-half was among 36 players named in Japan's test squad as Jamie Joseph begins his preparations for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Jun 13, 2023
Speed demons: the 'uriko' beer vendors of Japanese baseball
At Tokyo Dome, vendors sell an average of about 20,000 glasses of beer at a night game.
Japan Times
Rugby
Jun 12, 2023
Jamie Joseph confident Brave Blossoms' style can give England trouble at Rugby World Cup
Joseph, who led Japan to the quarterfinals in 2019, says his team can 'achieve anything.'
Japan Times
Rugby
May 21, 2023
Spears' Bernard Foley stakes World Cup claim with League One title
The 33-year-old is vying with several players including Quade Cooper, Ben Donaldson, Carter Gordon and Noah Lolesio for the Wallabies' No. 10 shirt.
Japan Times
Rugby
May 9, 2023
Faf de Klerk says Springboks motivated to 'prove world wrong'
The feisty scrum-half believes the underdog tag fits the fourth-ranked defending world champions ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Apr 27, 2023
Urawa and Al Hilal ready to finally meet for Asian Champions League title
The winter World Cup in Qatar and travel complications caused by COVID-19 mean Asian soccer has yet to crown its 2022 champion more than a year after the competition began.
Japan Times
LIFE
Apr 25, 2023
Gaudy cartoon cars turn heads in Japan
Perceptions of 'itasha,' cars covered in gaudy images of anime and manga characters, have begun to change, with hobby subcultures gaining a new mainstream acceptance in Japan.
Japan Times
LIFE
Mar 7, 2023
Living doll: Licca-chan casts a spell on Japan's adults
Some adult fans of the toy have formed an online community where they can swap homemade garments and accessories.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Feb 17, 2023
Tokyo approves plan to demolish historic Jingu Stadium despite public outcry
Jingu Stadium is one of only four stadiums where Babe Ruth played that still exists.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Feb 14, 2023
How Kaoru Mitoma studied his way to Premier League stardom
The Samurai Blue winger developed his dribbling skills while completing a four-year physical education degree at Japan's University of Tsukuba.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Feb 7, 2023
'Captain Tsubasa' creator aiming for real-life soccer success
Takahashi has played a big part in helping soccer culture take root in Japan, and believes there is room for it to grow further.
Japan Times
Rugby
Jan 26, 2023
England's Launchbury says more players could move to Japan
The 31-year-old lock left stricken English giants Wasps in November to sign a one-season deal with Toyota Verblitz.
Japan Times
TENNIS
Jan 9, 2023
Naomi Osaka's withdrawal from Australian Open raises questions about star's future
Tennis writer Ben Rothenberg, who has authored a biography of Osaka due out later this year, believes she has already taken a 'meaningful step back' from the sport.
Ishiba delays meeting with Trump, citing legal restrictions
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba waves upon arrival for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, in Callao, Peru, on Friday.
Two of America’s biggest debt holders are dumping Treasurys
The U.S. Treasury building in Washington. Investors in Japan and China sold a pile of U.S. debt in the last quarter, just before the U.S. presidential election.
Rising sex tourism exposes loopholes in Japan's anti-prostitution law
While financial misfortunes during the COVID-19 pandemic may have driven some women to work the streets, others simply want more money to spend — or want to pay off their debts — at host clubs.
Japan ranks last in romance satisfaction for second straight year
In a survey of 31 countries, Japan ranked last in terms of those who felt loved, with just 51% of respondents saying so.
Ruling coalition and DPP strike last-minute deal over economic policy
DPP policy chief Makoto Mahaguchi speaks at the party's policy gathering in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Japan, U.K. and Italy discuss inviting more countries to joint fighter project
A new concept model of a next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by Japan, Britain and Italy is on display in Farnborough, Hampshire, in July.
Haruki Murakami's 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' gives deep deja vu
For “The City and Its Uncertain Walls,” translated into English by Philip Gabriel, Haruki Murakami confronts the ghosts who won't leave him alone.
Japanese expats in Asia find community through rugby
The Taiwan Fivewoods celebrate their victory at the 2023 Asian Japanese Rugby Cup in December of last year.
In Fukushima, a weekend of prose, poetry and translation
Aomori-based writer JJ Carter presented on tabletop gaming as creative inspiration for building characters and narratives.
For Dr. Nakamats, aging is just experience in action
Though he didn't win the recent gubernatorial election in Tokyo, the 96-year-old Dr. Nakamats' run was seen as inspirational in Japan's aging society.

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