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April 12, 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
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.
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.
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:
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.
SOCCER / J. League
Apr 26, 2014
Reysol win on last-gasp strike
Junya Tanaka scored with a thunderbolt in the third and final minute of injury time to give Kashiwa Reysol a 3-2 win over Urawa Reds on Saturday.
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Apr 23, 2014
Strong start sees new-look Vissel avoid past mistakes
Past disappointments may have persuaded Vissel Kobe fans to temper their expectations when the club unveiled its latest signings over the offseason, but Saturday's table-topping win over Kashima Antlers has surely prompted a rethink.
SOCCER / J. League
Apr 19, 2014
Vissel edge Antlers
Vissel Kobe went top of the J. League for at least 24 hours after an incident-packed 3-2 win over Kashima Antlers on Saturday.
SOCCER
Apr 15, 2014
Saito ignites Marinos with two rapid-fire goals in second half
Manabu Saito dragged Yokohama F. Marinos' Asian Champions League challenge back from the dead with two goals in the space of a minute in a 2-1 win over Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on Tuesday night.
SOCCER / J. League
Apr 9, 2014
Reinvigorated Antlers looking to rule J. League again
It has been a few years since Kashima Antlers could rightly be described as the team to beat in the J. League, but this season's early form suggests the seven-time champions are fast recovering their old aura.
SOCCER / J. League
Apr 6, 2014
Kashiwa outclasses Cerezo's stars
Kashiwa Reysol gave Cerezo Osaka's much-vaunted strike force a lesson in clinical finishing with a 2-1 win over the preseason J. League title favorites on Sunday.
SOCCER / J. League
Mar 29, 2014
Antlers rally for win
Kashima Antlers came from behind to beat Yokohama F . Marinos 3-1 on Saturday as the J. League's early front-runners went head to head.
SOCCER / J. League
Mar 24, 2014
Players push for more action against racism scourge
Urawa Reds striker Tadanari Lee has urged Japanese soccer to follow the Premier League's zero-tolerance attitude toward racism after taking part in the first J. League game to be played behind doors.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Mar 23, 2014
Urawa, Shimizu play to draw in silent Saitama Stadium
Urawa Reds drew 1-1 with Shimizu S-Pulse on Sunday in the first J. League game to be played behind closed doors, as punishment for a discriminatory banner hung by Urawa fans earlier this month.
SOCCER / J. League
Mar 22, 2014
Urawa prepares for darkest day
Urawa Reds will make unwanted J. League history when they take on Shimizu S-Pulse at an empty Saitama Stadium on Sunday, and S-Pulse manager Afshin Ghotbi knows from experience that it will not be an occasion to savor.
SOCCER / J. League
Mar 15, 2014
Marinos handle Vortis
Yokohama F. Marinos maintained their perfect start to the J. League season with a comfortable 3-0 win over promoted Tokushima Vortis on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Mar 14, 2014
Murai deserves praise for taking bold action against Urawa
The J. League has not always been known for taking clear, decisive action, but Thursday's announcement that Urawa Reds must play one home game behind closed doors as punishment for a discriminatory banner was a bold decision that must be applauded.
SOCCER / J. League
Mar 13, 2014
J. League punishes Urawa for discriminatory banner
The J. League on Thursday ordered Urawa Reds to play their next home game behind closed doors as punishment for a discriminatory banner that appeared at a match last weekend.
SOCCER / J. League
Mar 12, 2014
Usual suspects top the table early
The new J. League season is just two weeks old, but already there is a familiar look about the top of the table.
Takayasu’s latest heartbreak makes sumo history
Takayasu during the one-day Annual Sumo Tournament at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on Feb 9, 2020
How police are cracking down on 'scout' sex broker groups
The skyline during sunset in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Japan's new underground criminal groups operate under a highly organized and brutal system.
The man who sent Japan's cherry blossoms out to the world
Masatoshi Asari is one of Japan’s foremost living authorities on cherry trees and their blossoms.
Tokyo cheers Trump’s tariff U-turn with second-biggest market gain ever
U.S. President Donald Trump looks on after signing an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House on Wednesday in Washington.
Berkshire sells $628 million in yen bonds in smallest Japan deal
Berkshire Hathaway concluded a ¥90 billion ($628 million) bond deal on Friday, the smallest yen deal by investor Warren Buffett’s firm since it started tapping the Japanese market in 2019.
How police are cracking down on 'scout' sex broker groups
The skyline during sunset in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Japan's new underground criminal groups operate under a highly organized and brutal system.
Tokyo cheers Trump’s tariff U-turn with second-biggest market gain ever
U.S. President Donald Trump looks on after signing an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House on Wednesday in Washington.
Takayasu’s latest heartbreak makes sumo history
Takayasu during the one-day Annual Sumo Tournament at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on Feb 9, 2020
Who is Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's tariffs negotiator?
Economic revitalization minister Ryosei Akazawa, who Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has appointed Japan's tariff negotiator, is one of his closest allies and busiest ministers.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

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Visitors walk past Sou Fujimoto's Grand Ring, which has been recognized as the largest wooden structure in the world.
Can a World Expo still matter? Japan is about to find out.
By Tomoko Otake

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