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April 03, 2025
 

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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
Jan 20, 2011
Asian Cup campaign gathering steam after five-goal salvo
Slowly but surely, Japan's Asian Cup challenge is taking shape.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jan 13, 2011
Toothless performance shows Zaccheroni flip side of coin
After the euphoria of beating Argentina in his first match as national team manager, Alberto Zaccheroni got a good look at the other face of Japanese soccer on Sunday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jan 6, 2011
Zaccheroni equipped to make winning start to new era
No sooner than one soccer year ends, another one begins.
SOCCER
Jan 3, 2011
Antlers earn Emperor's Cup, lock up ACL berth
Kashima Antlers manager Oswaldo Oliveira believes the frustration of missing out on a fourth straight J. League title was the driving force behind his team's 2-1 win over Shimizu S-Pulse in the Emperor's Cup final on Saturday.
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Dec 9, 2010
Tokyo left to pick up pieces after nightmare year
What began as a year of optimism and promise could not have turned out any worse for FC Tokyo.
SOCCER / J. League
Dec 5, 2010
Vissel avoids relegation by winning season finale
SAITAMA — Vissel Kobe secured their first-division survival and condemned FC Tokyo to an astonishing relegation with a 4-0 demolition of Urawa Reds on the final day of the J. League season on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Dec 2, 2010
Japan facing uphill struggle as World Cup decision looms
Thursday marks the end of a long and vicious battle for hosting rights to the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, but Japan will look to Zurich more in hope than expectation of winning the latter.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Nov 25, 2010
No time for drama as coldblooded Grampus get job done
While Nagoya Grampus' unblinking march toward the title has deprived the J. League of late drama, it has provided a testament to the quality and efficiency of the newly crowned champions.
SOCCER / J. League
Nov 24, 2010
Ishihara's late strike gives Omiya Ardija draw against Vissel Kobe
SAITAMA — Naoki Ishihara salvaged an 85th-minute equalizer to all-but secure Omiya Ardija's first-division survival and edge Vissel Kobe closer to the relegation trapdoor with a 2-2 draw on Tuesday.
SOCCER / J. League
Nov 21, 2010
Grampus beat Bellmare, win first J. League title
HIRATSUKA, Kanagawa Pref. — Nagoya Grampus finally claimed their first-ever J. League title with a 1-0 win over Shonan Bellmare on Saturday as Kashima Antlers' challenge fizzled out with a scoreless draw at Vissel Kobe.
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Nov 18, 2010
Still work to do before Grampus lay hands on title
The J. League title race has gone down to the wire in every season since the single-league format was introduced in 2005, but Nagoya Grampus will be hoping for no such excitement this year.
SOCCER / J. League
Nov 16, 2010
Antlers refuse to concede title to Grampus
KAWASAKI — Kashima Antlers manager Oswaldo Oliveira has warned Nagoya Grampus not to start celebrating their first-ever J. League title just yet, even as Dragan Stojkovic's side moved to match point in the championship race on Sunday.
SOCCER / J. League
Nov 8, 2010
Antlers revive slim title hopes with win over Grampus
KASHIMA, Ibaraki Pref. — Defending champions Kashima Antlers reined in Nagoya Grampus' march toward the J. League title and revived their own championship ambitions with a gritty 1-0 win over the league leaders on Sunday.
SOCCER / J. League
Nov 4, 2010
Jubilo's Maeda strikes twice in thrilling Nabisco Cup final triumph
Jubilo Iwata came back from the dead to claim their first trophy in seven years with a breathless 5-3 extra-time win over Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the Nabisco Cup final on Wednesday.
SOCCER / J. League
Oct 24, 2010
Gonda stands tall late as FC Tokyo earns point
Shuichi Gonda saved a last-minute penalty to rescue a 1-1 draw for relegation-threatened FC Tokyo against Albirex Niigata on Saturday.
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Oct 21, 2010
Relegation battle heats up as title race cools down
An unexpected defeat for Nagoya Grampus has reined in the J. League's one-horse title race — for now at least — but the competition at the other end of the table is just getting started.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Oct 14, 2010
Zaccheroni hits ground running as new era starts in style
Alberto Zaccheroni is only taking his first steps as national team manager, but already he has hit his stride.
SOCCER / World cup
Oct 10, 2010
Zaccheroni believes Japan can build off big victory over Argentina
SAITAMA — New national team manager Alberto Zaccheroni has urged his players to shed their inferiority complex and start believing they can beat the world's best, pointing to Friday night's remarkable win over Argentina as evidence.
TENNIS
Oct 6, 2010
Nadal shakes off fatigue, tops No. 63 Giraldo
Rafael Nadal was made to sweat without ever looking in serious danger as the world No. 1 marked his Japan Open debut with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Santiago Giraldo on Tuesday.
TENNIS
Oct 5, 2010
Hungry Nadal looking for more glory at Japan Open
Rafael Nadal insists his appetite has not been sated by completing a career Grand Slam with victory at the U.S. Open last month, and intends to prove it at this week's Japan Open.
As ‘Buy Canadian’ grows, more U.S. firms say retailers turning away products
Empty shelves with "Buy Canadian Instead" signs are seen in the American Whiskey section of the BC Liquor in Vancouver, British Columbia, on March 10.
A Canadian made a weekend trip to Costco a Japanese pastime
Under the watchful eye of Ken Theriault, Costco representative director and Japan country manager, the American membership-model wholesaler has flourished in Japan.
Meiji says sayonara to bottled milk, a staple of Japan's bathhouses
Meiji bottled milk lined up in a fridge at Kosugiyu, a bathhouse in Tokyo. The sticker urges patrons to enjoy the milk one last time before it’s gone.
Japan, South Korea and China vow to strengthen trade ties amid looming U.S. tariffs
Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yoji Muto (left), South Korean Trade Industry and Energy Minister Ahn Duk-geun (center) and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao during a trilateral meeting in Seoul on Sunday
Meiji says sayonara to bottled milk, a staple of Japan's bathhouses
Meiji bottled milk lined up in a fridge at Kosugiyu, a bathhouse in Tokyo. The sticker urges patrons to enjoy the milk one last time before it’s gone.
A Canadian made a weekend trip to Costco a Japanese pastime
Under the watchful eye of Ken Theriault, Costco representative director and Japan country manager, the American membership-model wholesaler has flourished in Japan.
On defense, Japan may avoid Trump's worst impulses — for now
Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth chat after reviewing an honor guard during a welcome ceremony at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on Sunday.
No longer a 'bridesmaid': Yuki Tsunoda prepares for the Red Bull pressure cooker
All eyes will be on Yuki Tsunoda as he makes his Red Bull debut at the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend.
Tokyo tech failures lean into misfortune, mistakes and missteps
Tsuyoshi Domoto in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward on March 28. As an entrepreneur, Domoto experienced plenty of setbacks but maintains a positive attitude and continues to pursue his dreams.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

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

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