author

 
Menu
Search
 
July 28, 2024
 

Today's print edition

Home Delivery
Subscribe for more access
Andrew MCKIRDY

Meta

Twitter

@Andrew_McKirdy

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
Oct 6, 2011
Japan looking for attacking balance without talisman Honda
Vietnam and Tajikistan are unlikely to ask too many questions of Japan's defense over the coming week, but a Keisuke Honda-sized hole in attack could prove to be more of a problem for national team manager Alberto Zaccheroni.
Japan Times
TENNIS
Sep 29, 2011
Kanepi upsets Wozniacki
World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki crashed out of the Pan Pacific Open after a shock 7-5, 1-6, 6-4 loss to Estonian Kaia Kanepi on Wednesday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Sep 25, 2011
Vegalta hand title-chasing Marinos demoralizing defeat
Vegalta Sendai dealt Yokohama F. Marinos' J. League title ambitions a heavy blow with a come-from-behind 3-1 win on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Sep 24, 2011
Tashiro, Antlers not ready to relinquish J. League crown
Kashima Antlers would need a miracle to end the season with their fourth J. League title in five years, but that does not mean striker Yuzo Tashiro is prepared to write the campaign off as a bust just yet.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Sep 15, 2011
Front four jostle for position heading into final stretch
It is all but certain that the 2011 J. League champion will come from the four-team breakaway group that has formed at the top of the table, but with a quarter of the season still to play, that is about as clear as the picture gets.
SOCCER / J. League
Sep 11, 2011
Reysol display mettle, championship drive
Kashiwa Reysol came from behind to refuel their title ambitions with a feisty 2-1 win over defending J. League champions Nagoya Grampus on Saturday.
SOCCER / World cup
Sep 4, 2011
Zaccheroni maintains confidence, trust in players
National team manager Alberto Zaccheroni insists he never lost faith in his team's ability to score after a last-gasp Maya Yoshida goal gave Japan a winning start to its 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign against North Korea on Friday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Sep 3, 2011
Yoshida's late goal propels Japan past North Korea
Maya Yoshida headed in an injury-time goal to get Japan's bid to qualify for a fifth successive World Cup off to a winning start with a 1-0 victory on Friday night.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Sep 1, 2011
Zaccheroni must build upon strong start, be wary of rivals
Alberto Zaccheroni's first year as national team manager could hardly have been more successful, but that does not mean the Italian can expect to stroll through Japan's opening World Cup qualifying fixtures starting this week.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Aug 21, 2011
Reysol beat Avispa, pull even with Gamba
Kashiwa Reysol survived an early scare to beat bottom side Avispa Fukuoka 3-2 on Saturday and move level on points with Gamba Osaka at the top of the J. League.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Aug 20, 2011
Strong play has Kofu's Havenaar out of father's shadow
Ventforet Kofu might be struggling to keep their heads above water this season, but striker Mike Havenaar is making a big splash in the J. League's first division.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Aug 11, 2011
Full-blooded competition a fitting tribute to Matsuda
Last weekend's J. League fixtures were always going to be difficult so soon after the shock death of former Yokohama F. Marinos and national team defender Naoki Matsuda, but in the event the passion and determination on show were a fitting tribute.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Aug 7, 2011
Kashiwa climbs back to top of standings
Kashiwa Reysol wrested leadership of the J. League away from Yokohama F. Marinos with a 2-0 win on Saturday night, just two days after the shock death of former Marinos defender Naoki Matsuda.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Aug 6, 2011
Nakazawa hoping to return to national team
On Tuesday afternoon, Yuji Nakazawa could never have imagined the events that would unfold over the course of the week.
SOCCER / J. League
Jul 31, 2011
Reds complete season double over Frontale
Urawa Reds stretched their unbeaten run to eight J. League games and dented Kawasaki Frontale's title hopes into the bargain with a 1-0 win on Saturday night.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Jul 30, 2011
Rafael says Ardija must keep poise despite home struggles
Omiya Ardija are yet to win a single game at their own Nack5 Stadium this season, but Brazilian striker Rafael is determined to find some home comfort as soon as possible.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Jul 24, 2011
Marinos edge Vissel, extend unbeaten streak
Yokohama F. Marinos held on to first place in the J. League with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Vissel Kobe on Saturday night.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Jul 21, 2011
Marinos look to hold on after scratching five-year itch
The J. League has a new leader, and after more than five years away from the summit, Yokohama F. Marinos are not likely to give up first place without a fight.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Jul 20, 2011
'Nadeshiko' Japan feted upon return
Japan's Women's World Cup-winning soccer team made a triumphant return on Tuesday, with captain and tournament MVP Homare Sawa shrugging off suggestions she may retire in order to target gold at next year's London Olympics.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Jul 14, 2011
Reysol recover from early setback to maintain top spot in league table
Kashiwa Reysol came from a goal down to beat Sanfrecce Hiroshima 3-1 and preserve their lead at the top of the J. League on Wednesday night.
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.
Japan's average life expectancy rises for first time in three years
A decline in COVID-19-caused deaths likely helped boost the average life expectancy for Japanese men and women to rise for the first time in three years in 2023.
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

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

JNTO promotes sustainable tourism initiatives
JNTO promotes sustainable tourism initiatives

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS note

Read more

SUPPLEMENTS BINDER