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 / SOCCER SCENE

Dec 7, 2009

Japan's World Cup group difficult, but not impossible

The World Cup draw could certainly have been kinder to Japan, but that is not to say Takeshi Okada's side is guaranteed to fall at the first hurdle next summer.

SOCCER / J. League

Dec 6, 2009

Koroki-led Antlers capture third straight J. League title

SAITAMA — Shinzo Koroki struck with a 67th-minute diving header to give Kashima Antlers a tension-drenched 1-0 win over Urawa Reds and a record third consecutive J. League title on Saturday.

SOCCER / J. League

Dec 5, 2009

Frontale need help to capture first J. League title

KURIHIRA, Kanagawa Pref. — For Kawasaki Frontale goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima, Saturday will either mark the greatest day of his club career or the latest in a long line of painful failures.

SOCCER / J. League

Nov 29, 2009

Oliveira's Antlers move closer to another title

KASHIMA, Ibaraki Pref. — Kashima Antlers crushed title rivals Gamba Osaka 5-1 to take an emphatic step toward a record third consecutive championship on Saturday, but Kawasaki Frontale made sure the race will go down to the wire with a 1-0 win over Albirex Niigata.

SOCCER / J. League

Nov 28, 2009

Franca leading Reysol's charge to avoid relegation

Kashima Antlers' attempts to clinch another J. League title will hog the limelight on Saturday, but not everyone's eyes will be focused on the top of the table.

SOCCER / J. League

Nov 22, 2009

J. League title race heats up; Edmilson propels Reds past Jubilo

SAITAMA — Kashima Antlers and Gamba Osaka ramped up the pressure on Kawasaki Frontale in the J. League title race with wins on Saturday, while Urawa Reds salvaged some pride from a difficult season with a last-gasp 3-2 victory over Jubilo Iwata.

SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE

Nov 21, 2009

Frontale, Antlers, Gamba taking J. League title race down to wire

The 2009 J. League title race looked like it would turn into a cakewalk when Kashima Antlers stretched ahead of the pack earlier in the season, but history tells us nothing can ever be taken for granted.

SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE

Nov 12, 2009

Japan ready for dress rehearsal

National team manager Takeshi Okada was not impressed by the weakened squads Scotland and Togo rustled up for last month's friendlies, but motivation is hardly likely to be an issue for this weekend's opponent.

SOCCER / J. League

Nov 10, 2009

Hasegawa concedes title as S-Pulse's season flatlines

KASHIWA, Chiba Pref. — Shimizu S-Pulse manager Kenta Hasegawa conceded defeat in the J. League title race after Sunday's 5-0 loss to Kashiwa Reysol, and admits his previously league-leading side will struggle to secure a berth in the Asian Champions League if it continues its wretched form.

Rugby

Nov 2, 2009

All Black McCaw predicts bright future for Japanese rugby

New Zealand captain Richie McCaw believes Japanese rugby can use Saturday's historic Bledisloe Cup match in Tokyo as a springboard to success, but warned improvements will not happen overnight.

Japan Times

Rugby

Nov 1, 2009

New Zealand completes season sweep of Australia

New Zealand maintained its stranglehold over Australia with a 32-19 win in Japan's first taste of the Bledisloe Cup on Saturday.

SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE

Oct 29, 2009

Ghosts of past mistakes return as bad moon rises in Chiba

Barring a sequence of results too far-fetched for even the J. League, Chiba will play host to no first-division teams next season.

SOCCER / J. League

Oct 25, 2009

Victory puts Antlers back in first place

KASHIMA, Ibaraki Pref. — Kashima Antlers nudged back in front in the J. League title race as the defending champions beat hapless JEF United Chiba 3-0 on Saturday to end their six-game winless slump.

SOCCER / World cup

Oct 16, 2009

Okada backs Okazaki to reach highest level

RIFU, Miyagi Pref. — National team manager Takeshi Okada believes Shinji Okazaki has all the tools to become a world-class striker after the Shimizu S-Pulse forward took his international tally to 14 goals in 18 games on Wednesday night.

SOCCER / World cup

Oct 15, 2009

Okazaki, Japan overwhelm Togo

Shinji Okazaki grabbed his second international hat trick in the space of a week as Japan put Togo to the sword with a 5-0 win on Wednesday.

SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE

Oct 14, 2009

Nothing holding Japan back against Togo

Two wins and eight goals might not sound like a false start to Japan's October three-match series, but Wednesday's friendly against Togo will be the first and last chance manager Takeshi Okada has to really let go of the hand brake.

SOCCER / World cup

Oct 11, 2009

Late goals give Japan triumph over Scotland

YOKOHAMA — Japan needed a late own-goal to open the door to a 2-0 win over Scotland on Saturday, as Takeshi Okada's side struggled to find its rhythm in what had effectively become a B international.

SOCCER / World cup

Oct 10, 2009

Okada miffed about Scotland's lineup changes

National team manager Takeshi Okada has accused Scotland of short-changing his side ahead of their friendly on Saturday, after the Scots arrived in Yokohama minus 10 players selected for their original squad.

Japan Times

SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE

Oct 8, 2009

Fletcher, Adebayor set example for Okada's men to follow

The national team's three opponents over the next seven days may not present as severe a test as the Netherlands did last month, but that is not to say they have nothing to teach Takeshi Okada's men.

TENNIS

Oct 3, 2009

Sugiyama reaches doubles final in last tournament of pro career

Maria Sharapova moved within one win of capping her comeback from injury with a title by reaching the Toray Pan Pacific Open final on Friday.

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

Yamagata’s Zao Onsen Ski Resort is a classic beauty

Yamagata’s Zao Onsen Ski Resort is a classic beauty

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