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April 01, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
SOCCER / World cup
May 25, 2008
Tamada's 21st-minute tally gives Japan victory over Cote d'Ivoire
Japan got its warm-up for next month's crucial World Cup qualifiers off to a successful start with an impressive 1-0 win over Cote d'Ivoire on Saturday.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
May 22, 2008
Spontaneous stupidity sparked violence after match
The shocking scenes of violence after last week's match between Urawa Reds and Gamba Osaka were a worrying development for the J. League, but that does not mean an era of Japanese hooliganism is dawning.
SOCCER / J. League
May 18, 2008
Gamba win marred by unruly behavior
SAITAMA — Ugly scenes on the pitch and in the stands marred Gamba Osaka's 3-2 win over Urawa Reds on Saturday.
SOCCER / J. League
May 16, 2008
Okada unveils Kirin Cup squad
Japan manager Takeshi Okada called up Celtic playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura for the first time Thursday as he prepares for June's do-or-die World Cup qualifying matches with two friendly matches later this month.
SOCCER / J. League
May 11, 2008
Edmilson lifts Reds over Frontale
KAWASAKI — A single moment of skill lit up an otherwise dreary game to give Urawa Reds a 1-0 win over Kawasaki Frontale on Saturday.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
May 11, 2008
JEF United shows commitment with hiring of Miller
Given the state JEF United Chiba finds itself in, the club has pulled off a real coup in snaring Alex Miller for its vacant manager's job.
SOCCER / J. League
May 8, 2008
Kuze sacked after just four months at helm of JEF United
JEF United Chiba fired manager Josip Kuze on Wednesday, a day after the Croatian insisted the club wanted him to stay in the job.
SOCCER / World cup
May 6, 2008
Verbeek vows to keep Aussies competitive in World Cup qualifying
Australia manager Pim Verbeek insists his side has a better understanding of Asian soccer since last year's Asian Cup, but is taking nothing for granted ahead of next month's crucial World Cup qualification matches.
SOCCER / J. League
May 4, 2008
Reysol dismantles struggling JEF
CHIBA — A first-half goal from Alex gave Kashiwa Reysol a 1-0 win over JEF United Chiba on Saturday, and consigned its beleaguered local rival to a sixth-straight league defeat in the process.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
May 3, 2008
Some Japanese referees just don't get it
The referee is never the most popular person on a soccer pitch, but the man in charge of Tuesday's J. League clash between Oita Trinita and FC Tokyo certainly didn't do himself any favors.
SOCCER / J. League
Apr 27, 2008
Verdy halts Nagoya's run at six
Tokyo Verdy killed off the unbeaten start of Nagoya Grampus to the J. League season with a shock 2-0 win at Ajinomoto Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
SOCCER
Apr 23, 2008
Oliveira miffed about schedule
Kashima Antlers manager Oswaldo Oliveira has launched an angry tirade against his club's hectic schedule ahead of Wednesday's Asian Champions League clash with Beijing Guoan.
SOCCER / J. League
Apr 20, 2008
Tough day for Antlers as Fujigaya hurt in draw with Gamba
KASHIMA, Ibaraki Pref. — Gamba Osaka survived a first-half injury to goalkeeper Yosuke Fujigaya to claim a point from a scrappy 0-0 draw against Kashima Antlers on Saturday.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Apr 19, 2008
Antlers logical destination for rehabbing Ronaldo in Japan
Whether there's truth in reports this week suggesting Ronaldo may be headed to the J. League, it is certainly a compelling story.
Japan unveils new overtourism countermeasures
The majority of tourists in Japan tend to stay in Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto, resulting in overcrowding in popular tourist spots and a strain on transportation systems.
South Korea couple beat same-sex barriers to parenthood
South Korean lesbian couple Kim Kyu-jin (left) and her wife, Kim Sae-yeon, pose with a "pregnant woman" badge during an interview in Seoul last month.
Toyoko Kids: The lonely street children of Tokyo
Many young people who feel neglected at home flock to the Toyoko area to find a community where they can fit in.
Opportunities await the bold in the Year of the Wood Dragon
2024 marks the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac, with the year predicted to be a good time for fresh starts.
Don’t worry about global population collapse
Most projections show the world will hit peak humanity in the 21st century as people choose to have smaller families and women gain power over their own reproduction.
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.
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.
Who among the opposition would join the ruling coalition?
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba enters his office in Tokyo on Friday.
Traveling the Three-Star Road, the tourist route made from thin air
Scenes like this snow-covered bridge leading to the village of Shirakawa-go are what make the Three-Star Road worth traveling — its name notwithstanding.
Recent spate of wildfires in Japan and South Korea linked to climate change
Smoke and flames rise from a wildfire in Andong, South Korea, on Tuesday.

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
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