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November 23, 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
SOCCER / World cup
Jul 24, 2014
Aguirre confirmed as Japan's next manager
The Japan Football Association on Thursday officially named Mexican Javier Aguirre as Japan's new national team manager.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Jul 21, 2014
Return from shutdown helps to forget World Cup woes
The return of J. League action is unlikely to ease the disappointment for soccer fans still sore from Japan's dismal World Cup showing, but a glut of goals as the league resumed in full on Saturday at least provided a welcome distraction.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jun 26, 2014
Results show Japan still far from ready for prime time
There are few if any positives to take from Japan's hugely disappointing World Cup campaign, but the team must make sure that the lessons of Brazil do not go unheeded.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup / SOCCER SCENE
Jun 21, 2014
Drab draw leaves Japan hoping for miracles
"Believe in miracles," ran the headline of one sports newspaper after Japan's 0-0 draw with Greece left its World Cup hopes hanging by a thread, but simply salvaging pride from a bitterly disappointing campaign looks a more realistic ambition.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jun 18, 2014
Japan facing early exit if mistakes go unheeded against Greece
Japan must beat Greece on Thursday to stand any realistic chance of surviving at the World Cup, but a repeat of Saturday's performance in a frustrating defeat to Cote d'Ivoire will bring nothing but an early ticket home.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jun 11, 2014
Japan ready to make experience count at fifth World Cup
Japanese soccer can be rightfully proud of the progress it has made as the national team prepares to begin its fifth straight World Cup campaign, but no one in the squad will be happy just to take part.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 10, 2014
Brazil ready to take on world's best on home turf
The World Cup kicks off on Thursday (Friday, Japan time) in the country that has won the tournament more times than any other — Brazil. Thirty-two teams will compete over the next month for a place in the final at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana Stadium on July 13.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jun 4, 2014
Comeback win lifts confidence as Japan prepares for Brazil
National team manager Alberto Zaccheroni was looking for improvement in his players' physical condition in Monday's friendly against Costa Rica, but the mental boost they received from their 3-1 win could turn out to be even more important.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
May 28, 2014
Zaccheroni insists Japan will hit stride at World Cup
National team manager Alberto Zaccheroni is confident his side can shape up in time for the World Cup but admits the Blue Samurai are currently running on empty.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
May 27, 2014
Uchida goal gives Japan victory over Cyprus in World Cup send-off
Atsuto Uchida scored two minutes before halftime to give Japan a 1-0 win over Cyprus on Tuesday in the Blue Samurai's last home game before heading off to the World Cup in Brazil.
Japan Times
Rugby
May 25, 2014
Japan punches ticket to Rugby World Cup in final sporting event at national stadium
Japan booked its place at the 2015 Rugby World Cup with a 49-8 win over Hong Kong on Sunday in the final sporting event at National Stadium before it is demolished and rebuilt to stage the 2020 Olympics.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
May 25, 2014
Murofushi urges Japanese athletes to expand horizons in preparation for 2020 Games
Former Olympic hammer champion Koji Murofushi has urged Japan's athletes to embrace the pressure of the 2020 Tokyo Games and end the country's track and field gold drought.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
May 21, 2014
Solid base puts Urawa top at break
There is no prize for heading into the J. League's World Cup shutdown in first place, but Urawa Reds can at least savor the view from the top of the table for the next two months.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
May 17, 2014
Sekine strike helps Reds sink Cerezo
Teenager Takahiro Sekine scored seven minutes after coming on as a substitute to send Urawa Reds into the J. League summer break on top of the table after a 1-0 win over Cerezo Osaka on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
May 14, 2014
Zaccheroni sticks to his guns despite surprise Okubo choice
Yoshito Okubo's dramatic World Cup recall may have grabbed the headlines when national team manager Alberto Zaccheroni unveiled his squad for Brazil on Monday, but the Italian's final roster was anything but impulsive.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
May 12, 2014
Zaccheroni chooses Okubo for World Cup
Striker Yoshito Okubo claimed a place in Japan's World Cup squad after more than two years in the international wilderness as manager Alberto Zaccheroni named his 23-man selection on Monday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
May 3, 2014
Kudo goal gives Reysol triumph over Antlers
Masato Kudo scored on the stroke of halftime as Kashiwa Reysol scalped J. League leaders Kashima Antlers 1-0 on Saturday to pick up their third straight win.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Apr 30, 2014
World Cup squad shaping up as Zaccheroni weighs options
With national team manager Alberto Zaccheroni set to name his World Cup squad on May 12, Soccer Scene takes a look at the candidates. Names in bold are those predicted to make the final 23-man roster:
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Apr 29, 2014
Nagoya ends losing streak with victory over FC Tokyo
Kisho Yano scored three minutes into the second half to give Nagoya Grampus a 1-0 win over FC Tokyo on Tuesday and end a run of five straight defeats.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Apr 28, 2014
Tokyo's Morishige too focused to dream of World Cup
FC Tokyo defender Masato Morishige insists he has no time to dream of World Cup glory with the capital-city club still adapting to life under new manager Massimo Ficcadenti.
Tokyo Metro’s overseas efforts begin in earnest with London deal
Tokyo Metro will soon have a role in the running of London's Elizabeth Line, a major train route serving the U.K.’s capital city and environs.
Man charged with murder allegedly made victim date other men for money
A car carrying suspect Ryotaro Masuda, who was indicted for allegedly beating his 25-year-old girlfriend to death, leaves the Shibuya Police Station in Tokyo on Thursday.
Russia fired experimental ballistic missile at Ukraine, Putin says
Ukrainian firefighters work on a spot following an airstrike in Dnipro on Thursday.
Ex-yokozuna Kitanofuji dies at 82
Yokozuna Kitanofuji enters the ring during the May 1970 grand sumo tournament in Tokyo.
The slow-burn success of ‘A Samurai in Time’
A 19th-century warrior gets struck by lightning and wakes to find himself in 21st-century Kyoto in Junichi Yasuda’s surprise hit “A Samurai in Time.”
Shohei Ohtani wins National League MVP award
Shohei Ohtani celebrates after hitting a three-run home run against the Padres during the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles last month.
The slow-burn success of ‘A Samurai in Time’
A 19th-century warrior gets struck by lightning and wakes to find himself in 21st-century Kyoto in Junichi Yasuda’s surprise hit “A Samurai in Time.”
Around a quarter of Japan married couples in their 20s met through dating apps
A survey released by an organization promoting “Good Couples Day” shows that 24% of couples in their 20s met their marriage partner through a dating app.
'Tokyo Swindlers': Get deep into the minds of real estate con artists
In Ko Shinjo's "Tokyo Swindlers," a group of con artists manipulates real estate giants into falsified deals within the highly competitive, quick market.
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.

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