Andrew MCKIRDY - The Japan Times

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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

Mar 7, 2014

'Pitbull' Davids thinks Japan has potential for World Cup upsets

Dutch legend Edgar Davids believes Japan can spring a surprise at this summer's World Cup in Brazil, calling on the likes of Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa to inspire a future generation of players watching at home.

Japan Times

SOCCER

Mar 6, 2014

Kagawa invigorated by performance against New Zealand

Shinji Kagawa believes he can rescue his Manchester United career after starring in Japan's 4-2 friendly win over New Zealand on Wednesday night.

Japan Times

SOCCER

Mar 5, 2014

Japan overwhelms New Zealand in National Stadium finale

Japan came out with all guns blazing to beat New Zealand 4-2 and say farewell to National Stadium in style in a friendly on Wednesday night.

SOCCER / J. League

Mar 1, 2014

Antlers wallop Ventforet in season-opening match

Kashima Antlers made a barnstorming start to the new J.League season with a 4-0 demolition of Ventforet Kofu on Saturday.

SOCCER / J. League / 2014 J. LEAGUE PREVIEW

Feb 28, 2014

Cerezo looking to end Sanfrecce stranglehold

The following is the second of a two-part preview for the upcoming J. League season. Team-by-team previews of the nine highest-ranking teams competing in the first division are listed.

SOCCER / J. League / 2014 J. LEAGUE PREVIEW

Feb 27, 2014

Gamba looking for payback

The following is the first of a two-part preview for the upcoming J. League season. Team-by-team previews of the nine lowest-ranked teams competing in the first division are listed.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

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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