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 / World cup

Jun 5, 2012

Zaccheroni reveals players' nerves before victory over Oman

National team manager Alberto Zaccheroni admits the importance of making a strong start to the final round of qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup was weighing on his players' mind ahead of Sunday's 3-0 win over Oman.

SOCCER / World cup

Jun 4, 2012

Japan outclasses Oman in World Cup qualifier

Japan made a comfortable start to the final round of qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup with a 3-0 win over Oman on Sunday night.

SOCCER / J. League

May 26, 2012

Taking road less traveled has worked out for Tanaka

Last year may have been a dream come true for Kashiwa Reysol, but forward Junya Tanaka is determined to prevent 2012 from turning into a nightmare.

SOCCER / J. League

May 13, 2012

Albirex, Reds settle for 1-1 draw

Albirex Niigata prevented Urawa Reds from making up ground on the J.League's leading pack with a 1-1 draw on Saturday.

SOCCER / J. League

May 12, 2012

Marquinhos hoping he can give Marinos boost

As secret weapons go, there are few better players a J. League team could call on than Brazilian striker Marquinhos.

SOCCER / J. League

May 4, 2012

Frontale hold off Jubilo

Kawasaki Frontale overcame a nervy finish to beat Jubilo Iwata 4-3 and give manager Yahiro Kazama his first win in charge on Thursday.

SOCCER / J. League

Apr 29, 2012

Tosu continues strong start by holding Reysol

First-division debutants Sagan Tosu kept up their impressive start to the J. League season with a 1-1 draw away to reigning champions Kashiwa Reysol on Saturday.

SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK

Apr 26, 2012

Early pace-setters Vegalta determined to last distance

Skeptics may dismiss Vegalta Sendai's position at the top of the J. League as a fad waiting to blow over, but each passing weekend brings fresh evidence that the Tohoku side intends to stick around for good.

SOCCER / J. League

Apr 21, 2012

Abe relishing derby after return to Reds from Leicester

Urawa Reds have suffered too many false dawns in recent years to get carried away by their bright start to the J. League season, but midfielder Yuki Abe is not about to sit back and let local rivals Omiya Ardija pull the plug in Saturday's Saitama derby.

SOCCER / J. League

Apr 15, 2012

Leandro's brace not enough for Kashiwa in loss to Sendai

J. League leaders Vegalta Sendai preserved their unbeaten start to the season and took the defending champions' scalp in the process with a 3-2 win over Kashiwa Reysol on Saturday.

SOCCER / J. League

Apr 8, 2012

Cerezo storm past Ardija after break

Cerezo Osaka hit Omiya Ardija with a one-two punch from their Olympic arsenal as Hiroshi Kiyotake and Kim Bo Kyung both found the target in a 3-0 win on Saturday.

SOCCER / J. League

Apr 1, 2012

Grampus, Ardija fight to draw as wind, rain buffet stadium

Nagoya Grampus and Omiya Ardija battled through foul weather conditions to come away with a 1-1 draw on Saturday afternoon.

SOCCER / J. League

Mar 31, 2012

Ishikawa hopes FC Tokyo can sustain early momentum

Relegation is never an achievement to celebrate, but FC Tokyo winger Naohiro Ishikawa believes his side's perfect start to the J. League season would not have been possible without spending 2011 in the second division.

SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK

Mar 29, 2012

Serrao debacle leaves Gamba searching for stability

There was always a danger that Gamba Osaka would need time to adapt to life without former manager Akira Nishino, but no one expected things to turn out quite so badly.

SOCCER / J. League

Mar 25, 2012

Kim leads unbeaten Cerezo to victory over Frontale

Cerezo Osaka ended Kawasaki Frontale's perfect start to the new J. League season and maintained their own unbeaten record with a 1-0 victory on Saturday.

Japan Times

SOCCER

Mar 21, 2012

Maranhao's late goal gives Ulsan Hyundai draw with FC Tokyo

FC Tokyo's perfect start to the new season collapsed with an 88th-minute equalizer as South Korea's Ulsan Hyundai salvaged a 2-2 draw in the Asian Champions League on Tuesday.

SOCCER / J. League

Mar 18, 2012

Despotovic goal delivers victory for Reds against Reysol

Urawa Reds beat Kashiwa Reysol 1-0 on Saturday to leave the reigning J. League champions still searching for their first win of the new season.

SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK

Mar 15, 2012

Opening day gives hint of things to come in 20th season

The future is hardly set in stone after one round of matches, but as the J. League kicked off its 20th season on Saturday, there were some tantalizing glimpses of what lies ahead.

SOCCER / World cup

Mar 15, 2012

Japan punches ticket to London Olympics

Japan Under-23 manager Takashi Sekizuka allowed himself a moment to savor qualification for the London Olympic men's soccer tournament on Wednesday night, but the 51-year-old insists the real work begins now.

SOCCER / J. League

Mar 11, 2012

Lucas gives FC Tokyo season-opening win over Omiya Ardija

FC Tokyo made a winning return to the J. League first division with a 1-0 victory over Omiya Ardija as the new season got under way on Saturday.

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

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Professional cleaner Hirofumi Sakurai takes a moment to appreciate some photographs in a Gotanda apartment whose occupant died alone.

The last cleanup: Life and death in a lonely Japan

By Johan Brooks

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

BOARDING & INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL DAY 2025 (Sunday, April 20)

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