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July 28, 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 / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Dec 11, 2013
Sanfrecce showed mettle with late charge to claim second straight title
If Sanfrecce Hiroshima's debut title win last season was greeted with respectful but underwhelming applause, there can be no doubting their credentials now that they have successfully defended their crown.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Dec 10, 2013
Marinos star Nakamura honored with J.League Player of the Year award
Yokohama F. Marinos midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura was named J.League Player of the Year on Tuesday, three days after his team blew its chance to win the title on the final day of the season.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Dec 7, 2013
Sanfrecce defend J. League crown
Defending J. League champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima retained their title as Yokohama F. Marinos suffered a final-day meltdown with a 1-0 loss to Kawasaki Frontale on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Dec 6, 2013
Marinos, Sanfrecce to play starring roles in season's final act
The J. League title race has gone down to the wire in all but two seasons since the single-league format was introduced in 2005, so it should come as no surprise that the destination of the trophy is still undecided going into the final day of the 2013 campaign.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Nov 30, 2013
Marinos miss chance to clinch
Yokohama F. Marinos blew their chance to clinch the J. League title a week early after a 2-0 defeat to Albirex Niigata on Saturday, letting Sanfrecce Hiroshima back into contention heading into the final day of the season.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Nov 23, 2013
Reds' title hopes take hit
Urawa Reds all but surrendered the J. League title to Yokohama F. Marinos after a 3-1 defeat to Kawasaki Frontale on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Nov 21, 2013
Belgian tour provides welcome tonic for Japan
If national team manager Alberto Zaccheroni was looking for reassurance from this week's visit to Belgium, two excellent performances and results to match were a timely reminder that Japan is more than capable of making an impact at next summer's World Cup.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Nov 13, 2013
Once-mighty Jubilo's relegation ultimately no surprise
On the surface, Jubilo Iwata's relegation to the second division may appear shocking, but in reality the former J. League powerhouse's demotion has looked inevitable all season.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Nov 7, 2013
Zaccheroni comes out swinging ahead of Low Countries trip
Under-fire national team manager Alberto Zaccheroni has defended his record ahead of this month's friendlies against the Netherlands and Belgium, pointing to the medals he has won during his three years in charge as evidence.
Japan Times
Rugby
Nov 3, 2013
Hansen warns All Blacks to shape up
New Zealand coach Steve Hansen has warned his new-look All Blacks to stick to the game plan ahead of their tour of Europe after going rogue for periods of Saturday's 54-6 win over Japan.
Japan Times
Rugby
Nov 2, 2013
All Blacks crush Japan
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw scored a try and flyhalf Dan Carter kicked 10 points as both players returned from injury to lead New Zealand to a comfortable 54-6 win over Japan on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Nov 1, 2013
Reysol's Cleo seeking Nabisco Cup final tonic after ACL exit
Kashiwa Reysol may have missed out on Asian Champions League glory this season, but on-loan striker Cleo is confident of redemption in Saturday's Nabisco Cup final against Urawa Reds.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Oct 27, 2013
All Black absentees enjoying change of pace in Japanese league
The All Blacks are playing their first-ever away test against Japan in Tokyo on Saturday, but at club level the journey north is becoming familiar for more and more New Zealanders.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Oct 23, 2013
Marinos poised to capture first league title since 2004 as stretch run starts
Yokohama F. Marinos may hold the advantage in the J. League title race with five games remaining, but all three of the front-running teams will be confident of lifting the trophy come the end of the season.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Oct 19, 2013
Saito fires Marinos by Sanfrecce
Manabu Saito struck early in the second half to put Yokohama F. Marinos in control of the J. League title race with a 1-0 win over Sanfrecce Hiroshima on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Oct 5, 2013
Reds roll to comprehensive victory over Ardija
Urawa Reds got their faltering J. League title challenge back on track in emphatic style with a 4-0 win over local rivals Omiya Ardija on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Oct 4, 2013
Urawa's Koroki learns significance of fan passion for Saitama derby
Urawa Reds would probably prefer not to have the added pressure of a local derby as they look to get their J. League title challenge back on track against Omiya Ardija on Saturday, but it will take more than just hostile fans to faze striker Shinzo Koroki.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Sep 25, 2013
Guangzhou deals crushing blow to Reysol's Asian Champions League hopes
Kashiwa Reysol suffered a second-half meltdown to leave their Asian Champions League final dream hanging by a thread after a 4-1 home defeat to Marcello Lippi's Guangzhou Evergrande in their semifinal first leg on Wednesday night.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Sep 25, 2013
Marinos eye title after breaking clear of chasing pack
There is still plenty of life left in the J. League title race, but after opening up a four-point gap at the top of the table last weekend, Yokohama F. Marinos have taken a bold step toward their first championship in nine years.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Sep 21, 2013
Reds lose ground in title race after Aoyama saves point for Ventforet
Naoaki Aoyama scored in the 96th minute to rescue a precious point for Ventforet Kofu and dent Urawa Reds' J. League title hopes with a 1-1 draw on Saturday.
Japan's population continues to fall even as foreign resident count rises
The number of residents in Tokyo as of Jan. 1 rose by 0.03% from a year before, data shows, marking a year-on-year increase for the first time in three years, while the country's other 46 prefectures saw their populations continue to decline.
Ahead of the Olympics, Japan is still talking about the gymnast who won't be there
Japan's Shoko Miyata withdrew from the gymnastics team herself over her drinking and smoking, although it had already appeared as though the association was prepared to send her home from the team’s training camp in Monaco.
Yen melt-up nudges Japanese stocks into correction territory
Japanese stocks are down 10% from their July peak as the yen strengthens.
‘Crazy’ yen rally is at risk of shattering as soon as Wednesday
Some investors are warning that a yen rally is fragile, as was on show this week when the yen rapidly retraced an advance after Thursday’s stronger-than-expected U.S. economic growth figures.
Paris Olympics kick off with rain-soaked — but grandiose — opening ceremony
Japan's 2024 Olympic team moves down the Seine River in Paris during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics on Friday.
The Japanese Olympians looking to shine in Paris
Rim Nakamura, who is attempting to win Japan's first Olympic gold medal in cycling, will be one of the top Japanese athletes to watch at the Paris Games.
Japan’s minimum wage set for record ¥50 hike in major boost
Demonstrators rally to demand a big hike in minimum wages in Tokyo last week.
Japan loses top spot on strongest passport list to Singapore
Japan had the strongest passport for six years running from 2018, before being dethroned by Singapore on the 2024 list.
Why Japan's mysterious stash of classified funds escapes scrutiny
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi (right) during a meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Japan eyes gold — and the future — as Olympic men's soccer campaign begins
Japan midfielder Yu Hirakawa controls the ball during a match against the United States in Kansas City, Kansas, on June 11.

Podcast

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

Longform

Traditional folk rituals like Mizudome-no-mai (dance to stop the rain) provide a sense of agency to a population that feels largely powerless in the face of the climate crisis.
As climate extremes intensify, Japan embraces ancient weather rituals
By Alex K.T. Martin

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JNTO promotes sustainable tourism initiatives
JNTO promotes sustainable tourism initiatives

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