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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
Sep 13, 2008
Johnsen: Stojkovic's leadership key for Grampus
Nagoya Grampus striker Frode Johnsen admits he is surprised by his side's challenge for the 2008 J. League title, but is taking nothing for granted as the season moves into its final stretch.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Sep 5, 2008
Utilizing strong midfield key to success for Japan
With Japan still struggling for firepower with the final World Cup qualification round getting under way against Bahrain on Saturday night, a new wind blowing around Europe could help lighten the load.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Aug 28, 2008
Abe allows Reds to draw but Nagoya regains top
Yuki Abe salvaged a point for Urawa Reds with a goal deep into injury time to give his side an unlikely 1-1 draw with Tokyo Verdy on Wednesday.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Aug 24, 2008
Future looking grim for Olympic soccer
Argentina successfully defended its Athens Games gold in the Bird's Nest on Saturday, but events off the pitch have made sure little else about Olympic soccer will be the same again.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Aug 10, 2008
Nakamura's decision to stay with Celtic proved a wise move in the end
Anyone following the saga of quarterback Brett Favre could be forgiven for thinking that athletes care little for their legacy, but not all sportsmen are prepared to gamble with their reputation.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Aug 1, 2008
German power Bayern Munich post impressive victory over Reds
SAITAMA — Bayern Munich put a listless Urawa Reds side to the sword with a comprehensive 4-2 win in a Thursday night friendly match.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Aug 1, 2008
Sorimachi's squad faces big challenge
With its constantly changing cast and seemingly endless running time, Japan's Olympic soccer team has begun to resemble a TV soap opera.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Jul 30, 2008
Di Maria's goal lifts Argentina
Japan's Olympic soccer team gave itself a confidence boost with a credible performance against defending champion Argentina on Tuesday night, before a thunderstorm forced the match to be abandoned with Japan trailing 1-0.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jul 22, 2008
Big clubs' shortcomings taking shine off J. League championship race
On the face of it, a league table where just 10 points separated the top 13 teams at the halfway point of the season would suggest an exciting contest, but this year's J. League has been more infuriating than it has been enthralling.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Jul 17, 2008
FC Tokyo keeps Gamba out of first-place tie
FC Tokyo denied Gamba Osaka the chance to go level on points with J. League leaders Kashima Antlers with a battling 1-1 draw on Wednesday night.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jul 13, 2008
Challenges await new JFA president
As Motoaki Inukai settles into his new role as president of the Japan Football Association, he must contend with both the challenges ahead of him and the weight of the past on his shoulders.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Jul 6, 2008
Reds striker Tanaka shines in first league appearance since April
SAITAMA — Urawa Reds striker Tatsuya Tanaka gave national team manager Takeshi Okada food for thought as he helped his side get back to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over FC Tokyo on Saturday night.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jul 3, 2008
Bold Kobe bares its teeth to show Olympic soccer is just not worth it
Clubs grumbling over international callups is nothing new, but Vissel Kobe's decision last week to deny Japan the services of striker Yoshito Okubo for the Beijing Olympics may prove to be a watershed moment.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Jun 29, 2008
Ota's 84th-minute tally propels Reysol to hard-earned win over Reds
A late goal from Keisuke Ota gave Kashiwa Reysol a well-deserved 2-1 win over Urawa Reds on Saturday as the J. League returned from its summer break in explosive style.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jun 27, 2008
Qualifying round shows talent gap narrowing in Asia
Japan national team manager Takeshi Okada will be aware his seat at Friday's World Cup final Asian qualifying round draw in Kuala Lumpur has not come easy, but he will not be the only man in the room irked by such thoughts.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 23, 2008
Japan exacts revenge, finishes first in group
SAITAMA — A freak injury-time goal gave Japan a 1-0 win over Bahrain on Sunday night to send Takeshi Okada's men through to the final round of World Cup qualifiers on a high.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jun 5, 2008
Japan's stylish display against Oman leaves critics little ammunition
If there was a question mark hanging over national team manager Takeshi Okada before Monday's World Cup qualifying match against Oman, his side's comprehensive 3-0 win went a long way toward providing the answers.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 3, 2008
Nakamura energizes triumphant Japan
YOKOHAMA — Japan got its bid for a fourth-straight World Cup appearance back on track with a commanding 3-0 win over Oman on Monday night.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
May 30, 2008
With trip to 2010 World Cup on line, time for Okada to be assertive
If national team manager Takeshi Okada has learned one thing from his side's recent Kirin Cup matches, it must be to trust his own instincts.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
May 28, 2008
Nakamura unable to give Japan scoring spark in return
Shunsuke Nakamura's return to international action was not enough to inspire Japan to victory as Takeshi Okada's men labored to a 0-0 draw with Paraguay on Tuesday night.
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.

Podcast

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

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?
By Kathryn Wortley

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