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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 / SOCCER SCENE
Sep 20, 2013
J. League courting disaster with return to two-stage season
The J. League has built up a richly deserved reputation for leadership and vision since it began two decades ago, but this week's decision to revert to a two-stage championship risks setting the Japanese game back by years.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Sep 11, 2013
Honda shrugs off Milan transfer saga, keeps options open
Japan forward Keisuke Honda insists he remains as focused as ever despite missing out on a transfer to AC Milan last week, and denies a January switch to the Italian powerhouse is a foregone conclusion.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Sep 10, 2013
Three second-half goals carry Japan past Ghana
Manchester United star Shinji Kagawa sparked a second-half fightback as Japan came from a goal behind to beat Ghana 3-1 in a friendly on Tuesday night.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Sep 7, 2013
Reysol pulverize Marinos as Nelsinho makes dramatic return
Kashiwa Reysol ended a turbulent week on a resounding high with a 4-0 Nabisco Cup semifinal first-leg win over Yokohama F. Marinos on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Sep 4, 2013
Life goes on for Reysol after Nelsinho's shock resignation
Kashiwa Reysol are still reeling from the shock resignation of manager Nelsinho last weekend, but with the club competing on four fronts heading into September, there is no time for an extended grieving period.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Aug 31, 2013
Reds gain ground in J.League title race
Urawa Reds made up ground in the J.League title race with a 1-0 win over Albirex Niigata as front-runners Yokohama F. Marinos and Sanfrecce Hiroshima both lost on Saturday night.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Aug 29, 2013
Zaccheroni focused on improving team defense
National team manager Alberto Zaccheroni has pledged to stick by his embattled defenders, insisting on Thursday he would not swap them for anyone else in the world.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Aug 24, 2013
Ardija handed seventh consecutive loss
Kashiwa Reysol beat Omiya Ardija 3-2 on Saturday night to consign the free-falling Saitama side to its seventh straight defeat.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Aug 23, 2013
Kashima's Shibasaki impresses with professional approach to his craft
Kashima Antlers midfielder Gaku Shibasaki may be only 21, but such is the wise head on his young shoulders that 34-year-old club captain Mitsuo Ogasawara already considers him an "old man."
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Aug 17, 2013
Marinos climb back into first place by beating FC Tokyo
Yokohama F. Marinos reclaimed top spot in the J.League table with a 2-0 win over FC Tokyo on Saturday night.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Aug 14, 2013
Omiya taking massive gamble with Verdenik dismissal
The J. League has seen its fair share of bold managerial dismissals over the years, but few can rival the firing of Omiya Ardija's Zdenko Verdenik last weekend.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Aug 9, 2013
FC Tokyo's Watanabe embracing challenges he faces
FC Tokyo striker Kazuma Watanabe is excited to be leading a new wave of Japanese goal scorers in the race for this season's J. League golden boot, but that does not mean he is about to sit back and let his countrymen beat him to the prize.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Aug 7, 2013
Weekend results deny Sanfrecce chance to stretch legs
League leaders Sanfrecce Hiroshima went into last weekend's game against Urawa Reds with a real chance to pull clear of the chasing pack, but after crashing to a 3-1 defeat at Saitama Stadium, the top of the table now looks more congested than ever.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Aug 3, 2013
Koroki brace steers Reds past Sanfrecce
Urawa Reds brought Sanfrecce Hiroshima crashing back to earth with a 3-1 win over the J.League leaders on Saturday night.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jul 31, 2013
East Asian Cup triumph gives Japan, Zaccheroni timely boost
The East Asian Cup gave Japan something to build upon with next year's World Cup on the horizon.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Jul 27, 2013
Miyaichi going all out to impress Wenger, earn place
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes Ryo Miyaichi is looking more like his old self after struggling with injuries over the past year, but the Frenchman has stopped short of promising the young winger a place in his squad for the coming season.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Jul 26, 2013
Akpom lifts Arsenal with late tally against Urawa
A late defensive mix-up denied Urawa Reds an exhibition-match draw with Arsenal as the Premier League heavyweights ran out 2-1 winners on Friday night.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Jul 24, 2013
Giggs urges patience, tips Kagawa for big role at United
Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs insists there is no need to panic at the club's lukewarm start under new manager David Moyes, and believes teammate Shinji Kagawa has what it takes to make a big impression over the coming season.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Jul 23, 2013
Marinos snatch victory from Kagawa, Manchester United
Shinji Kagawa came off the bench but failed to prevent Manchester United from falling to a 3-2 exhibition-match defeat to Yokohama F. Marinos on Tuesday night.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jul 17, 2013
Zaccheroni on lookout for new blood at East Asian Cup
...
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

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