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November 22, 2024
 

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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 / J. League
Feb 28, 2009
Antlers begin quest to defend J. League title
Kashima Antlers manager Oswaldo Oliveira is hoping his team can lay down a marker for the rest of the J. League season in Saturday's curtain-raising Fuji Xerox Super Cup clash against Gamba Osaka.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Feb 14, 2009
Japan showed promise in draw
Japan's 0-0 draw with Australia on Wednesday night was far from being the disastrous result that Socceroos manager Pim Verbeek warned it would be during his pre-match mind games.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Feb 12, 2009
Socceroos frustrate Japan in draw
YOKOHAMA — A disciplined defensive performance from Australia frustrated Japan's attempts to jump to the top of Asian World Cup qualifying Group A on Wednesday night as the Socceroos held Takeshi Okada's men to a 0-0 draw.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Feb 11, 2009
Verbeek believes pressure is on Japan in Group A qualifier
YOKOHAMA — Australia manager Pim Verbeek has shrugged off suggestions his players won't be ready in time for Wednesday's crunch World Cup qualifier against Japan, insisting the pressure is all on Takeshi Okada's side.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Feb 8, 2009
Victory over Australia would give Japan boost
Takeshi Okada faces the biggest test of his second coming as national team manager against Australia on Wednesday night, but there is evidence to suggest the optimistic noises he has been making recently have some justification.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Feb 5, 2009
Japan crush Finland ahead of qualifier
Japan gave national team manager Takeshi Okada a welcome tonic ahead of next week's World Cup-qualifying match against Australia with a resounding 5-1 win over Finland on Wednesday night.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Feb 4, 2009
Japan faces quality tuneup match against Finland
National team manager Takeshi Okada is confident his side will be in fighting shape for next week's World Cup-qualifying showdown with Australia, starting with a sparring match against Finland on Wednesday night.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Feb 1, 2009
Japan's best shot is 2022 World Cup
Japan resumes its campaign for a place at the 2010 World Cup this month against Australia, but the nation's power brokers are already setting their sights on a more distant — and potentially more rewarding — edition of the tournament.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jan 22, 2009
Win over Yemen gives Okada's plans vital breathing space
Japan's 2-1 win over Yemen on Tuesday night may not have been pretty, but the result could prove invaluable for manager Takeshi Okada's strategy for 2009.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jan 15, 2009
No time to lose for Urawa as Finke gets down to business
Urawa Reds were quick off the mark to begin training for the 2009 season this week, but then the Saitama club has good reason to be impatient for a fresh start.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jan 6, 2009
Okubo equipped to make the most of his second chance
Yoshito Okubo's career may not have followed the course it seemed destined for when he burst onto the scene at the start of the decade, but a move to Wolfsburg gives the striker the perfect opportunity to make his belated mark on European soccer.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Jan 1, 2009
'Not everything goes right'
On Nov. 19 in Doha, in its final match of the year, the Japan national team turned in one of its best performances of 2008 to beat Qatar 3-0 and consolidate second place in World Cup final Asian qualifying Group 1.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jan 1, 2009
Gamba overcomes Marinos, fatigue, schedule for one more tilt at glory
When Gamba Osaka takes to the field for the Emperor's Cup final on New Year's Day, fatigue could prove to be just as deadly an opponent as Kashiwa Reysol.
SOCCER
Dec 23, 2008
Ferguson eyes further titles after CWC glory
YOKOHAMA — Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson believes his side can use its Club World Cup victory as a launchpad to success for the rest of the season.
Japan Times
SOCCER / CLUB WORLD CUP
Dec 22, 2008
Yamazaki leads Gamba to third-place finish
Gamba Osaka beat Mexico's Pachuca 1-0 on Sunday to claim a second consecutive third-place finish for a Japanese team at the Club World Cup.
Japan Times
SOCCER / CLUB WORLD CUP
Dec 22, 2008
Rooney lifts United to first CWC title
YOKOHAMA — Manchester United overcame a second-half red card for Nemanja Vidic to win the Club World Cup with a 1-0 victory over LDU Quito on Sunday.
SOCCER
Dec 21, 2008
United ready for final push
YOKOHAMA — Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is bracing for a bruising Club World Cup final encounter with Ecuador's LDU Quito on Sunday, but is confident his side can bring the world title back to Old Trafford for the second time in the club's history.
SOCCER
Dec 20, 2008
Fergie sees red over Real's Ronaldo claim
YOKOHAMA — Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has rubbished Real Madrid's claims to have reached a deal with Cristiano Ronaldo over a summer move to the Bernabeu, saying he "wouldn't sell them a virus."
Japan Times
SOCCER / CLUB WORLD CUP
Dec 19, 2008
United advances to final as goal rush sees off Gamba
YOKOHAMA — Wayne Rooney came off the bench to ignite a second-half goal rush as Manchester United beat Gamba Osaka 5-3 Thursday to reach the final of the Club World Cup.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Dec 18, 2008
Gamba needs superhuman effort to scalp United
Gamba Osaka will be aware there is potential for a thrashing at the hands of Manchester United in Thursday's Club World Cup semifinal, but the possibility of a shock upset should not be discounted either.
Two of America’s biggest debt holders are dumping Treasurys
The U.S. Treasury building in Washington. Investors in Japan and China sold a pile of U.S. debt in the last quarter, just before the U.S. presidential election.
Ishiba aggravates his own political failures with diplomatic faux pas
Prime Minster Shigeru Ishiba is greeted at the APEC summit in Lima by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. The Japanese leader was criticized for remaining seated while meeting several world leaders at the event.
Japan's 3.31 million visitors in October set monthly record
Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in December 2023. Famous autumn leaf colors contributed to increased tourism demand last month from many markets across Asia, Europe and North America, the Japan National Tourism Organization has said.
Japan ranks last in romance satisfaction for second straight year
In a survey of 31 countries, Japan ranked last in terms of those who felt loved, with just 51% of respondents saying so.
Ruling coalition and DPP strike last-minute deal over economic policy
DPP policy chief Makoto Mahaguchi speaks at the party's policy gathering in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Japan, U.K. and Italy discuss inviting more countries to joint fighter project
A new concept model of a next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by Japan, Britain and Italy is on display in Farnborough, Hampshire, in July.
Haruki Murakami's 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' gives deep deja vu
For “The City and Its Uncertain Walls,” translated into English by Philip Gabriel, Haruki Murakami confronts the ghosts who won't leave him alone.
Japanese expats in Asia find community through rugby
The Taiwan Fivewoods celebrate their victory at the 2023 Asian Japanese Rugby Cup in December of last year.
In Fukushima, a weekend of prose, poetry and translation
Aomori-based writer JJ Carter presented on tabletop gaming as creative inspiration for building characters and narratives.
For Dr. Nakamats, aging is just experience in action
Though he didn't win the recent gubernatorial election in Tokyo, the 96-year-old Dr. Nakamats' run was seen as inspirational in Japan's aging society.

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