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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 / J. League
Feb 26, 2014
Popovic trying to keep lid on Forlan hype as Cerezo eye title
The arrival of star Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan has transformed Cerezo Osaka into runaway favorites for the J. League title in the minds of many, but if manager Ranko Popovic agrees with them, he is keeping quiet.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Feb 25, 2014
Sanfrecce emboldened as chase for third straight title looms
Sanfrecce Hiroshima know they could not have won last year's J. League title without a bit of luck, but that will not stop the two-time defending champions from believing they can make it three in a row when the new season starts on Saturday.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Feb 25, 2014
Mao gives measured response to Mori's criticism, defends use of triple axel
Just back from Russia, figure skater Mao Asada chides Tokyo 2020 Olympic organizing committee chief Yoshiro Mori for criticizing her effort at the Sochi Games.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Feb 24, 2014
Arnold still getting used to life at Vegalta
New Vegalta Sendai manager Graham Arnold admits to being overwhelmed by the job so far, but the Australian is quietly confident of finding his feet over the coming J. League season.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Feb 22, 2014
Sanfrecce open with win
Teenage strikers Gakuto Notsuda and Takuma Asano put Yokohama F. Marinos to the sword as Sanfrecce Hiroshima opened the new soccer season with a 2-0 victory in the Xerox Super Cup on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Jan 22, 2014
Popovic says Cerezo primed for title run
It is impossible to properly assess how each team will fare more than a month ahead of the start of the 2014 J. League season, but Cerezo Osaka have reason to be quietly confident about the year ahead.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Jan 18, 2014
Kimura eyes World Cup place
Kosuke Kimura may be Japanese soccer's best-kept secret, but the New York Red Bulls right back is hoping to announce himself on the biggest stage at this summer's World Cup.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jan 8, 2014
Honda's moment arrives after long wait to join AC Milan
Keisuke Honda has waited a long time to get his shot with one of Europe's biggest clubs, but his patience should stand him in good stead as he begins life with Italian giants AC Milan this week.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Dec 16, 2013
Zaccheroni aiming for stars with World Cup ambitions
National team manager Alberto Zaccheroni on Monday refused to put a limit on Japan's ambitions at next summer's World Cup, but stopped short of claiming his team can win the trophy.
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.
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.

Podcast

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Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
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By Kathryn Wortley

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