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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 heads to South Korea for the East Asian Cup this weekend expecting a completely different challenge from last month's Confederations Cup, but with the disappointment of a first-round exit from Brazil still fresh in the memory, manager Alberto Zaccheroni will be keen to come home with the title....

SOCCER / J. League

Jul 13, 2013

Marinos outclass league-leading Ardija

Yokohama F. Marinos clipped J.League leaders Omiya Ardija's wings and moved firmly into the chasing pack with a 2-1 win on Saturday night.

SOCCER / J. League

Jul 10, 2013

Reds narrowly avoid defeat against FC Tokyo

Urawa Reds salvaged a point but lost ground on J. League leaders Omiya Ardija after a 2-2 draw with FC Tokyo on Wednesday night.

SOCCER / J. League

Jul 6, 2013

Ikeda leads Sagan to draw against Ardija

Sagan Tosu hit an 83rd-minute equalizer to claim a 1-1 draw with Omiya Ardija and cut the J.League leader's cushion at the top to three points as play resumed from a six-week international break on Saturday.

SOCCER / J. League

Jul 5, 2013

Novakovic relishing surprise title challenge with Ardija

Few preseason predictions would have tipped Omiya Ardija to lead the J. League at the start of July, but as play resumes Saturday after a six-week international break, striker Milivoje Novakovic is happy to keep confounding expectations.

SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK

Jul 3, 2013

Gamba, Vissel on course for quick return to top division

The J. League first division returns from its six-week international break this Saturday, but beneath the top flight the race for promotion is in full swing with the second division reaching its halfway point last Saturday.

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

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

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