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July 28, 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
Rugby
Oct 5, 2019
Unbeaten Brave Blossoms battle past Samoa, moving closer to first trip to RWC quarterfinals
Japan made it three wins out of three at the Rugby World Cup and moved within touching distance of the quarterfinals with a 38-19 victory over Samoa — including a bonus point — on Saturday night.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 4, 2019
All Blacks' Jordie Barrett ready for unfamiliar role
New Zealand utility back Jordie Barrett insists he is ready to rise to the challenge of being named as the All Blacks' starting standoff to face Namibia on Sunday — despite never having played the position in a test match before.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 3, 2019
England ready for Argentina clash
England head coach Eddie Jones on Thursday paid tribute to Japan's "outstanding" Rugby World Cup win over Ireland, before turning his attention back to his team's crunch match against Argentina this weekend.
Japan Times
Rugby
Sep 30, 2019
Rugby superfan 'Bak-san' becomes World Cup sensation with body-painted jerseys
Step aside Beauden Barrett, Owen Farrell and Siya Kolisi — the real MVP of the 2019 Rugby World Cup so far is "Bak-san."
Japan Times
Rugby
Sep 30, 2019
Wales hopes to keep putting best foot forward at RWC
Wales super-sub Rhys Patchell hailed his team's kicking prowess after beating Australia on Sunday, claiming "tries don't win World Cups."
Japan Times
Rugby
Sep 29, 2019
Wales holds off Australia comeback attempt to take control of Pool D in Rugby World Cup
Wales withstood a furious second-half fightback from Australia to seize control of Pool D at the Rugby World Cup with a 29-25 victory on Sunday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 29, 2019
Chiba biwa grower vows to continue despite post-Typhoon Faxai damage
In May this year, loquat grower Kenzo Takeba showed The Japan Times around his farm in Minamiboso, Chiba Prefecture, explaining how he cultivates the soft, juicy fruit that contributes so much to the local economy.
Japan Times
Rugby
Sep 28, 2019
Stunner in Shizuoka: Japan beats No. 2-ranked Ireland 19-12 in Rugby World Cup
Japan pulled off another Rugby World Cup shock for the ages with a fearless 19-12 win over Ireland on Saturday.
Japan Times
CULTURE
Sep 28, 2019
Go for it: Ancient board game holds logical and artistic appeal for players worldwide
The master enters the room several minutes after the scheduled 9 a.m. start.
Japan Times
Rugby
Sep 28, 2019
Brave Blossoms savor win over Ireland and shift focus to next match
Japan regular captain Michael Leitch hailed his team's momentous Rugby World Cup win over Ireland on Saturday as a "massive step" toward a first-ever place in the quarterfinals, but warned that nothing has been decided yet.
Japan Times
Rugby
Sep 22, 2019
Even after routing Scotland, Ireland remains wary of Japan
Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt dismissed suggestions his players can take it easy after starting their Rugby World Cup campaign with a resounding win over Scotland on Sunday, warning that "dangerous" next opponent Japan will punish any complacency from the world's No. 1-ranked side.
Japan Times
Rugby
Sep 22, 2019
Ireland crushes Scotland in early show of force
World No. 1-ranked Ireland announced itself in dominant style at the 2019 Rugby World Cup with a bruising 27-3 win over Scotland on Sunday.
Japan Times
Rugby
Sep 22, 2019
All Blacks look ahead after beating Springboks in first-round clash of titans
Two-time defending champion New Zealand began its 2019 Rugby World Cup campaign with a statement win over South Africa on Saturday night, but head coach Steve Hansen thinks it will count for little when the business end of the tournament begins in the knockout round.
Japan Times
Rugby
Sep 21, 2019
All Blacks deliver clear message with methodical victory over Springboks
Two-time defending Rugby World Cup champion New Zealand sent an ominous warning to its 2019 title rivals with a 23-13 win over much-fancied South Africa in its tournament opener on Saturday.
Japan Times
Rugby
Sep 21, 2019
All Blacks and Springboks get the party started in Yokohama
New Zealand and South Africa fans got the party started early outside International Stadium Yokohama on Saturday afternoon, as two of rugby's traditional heavyweights prepared to do battle at the Rugby World Cup.
Japan Times
Rugby
Sep 21, 2019
Japan's hat-trick hero Kotaro Matsushima says Brave Blossoms will be ready for Ireland match
Hat-trick hero Kotaro Matsushima is backing Japan to shake off its Rugby World Cup stage fright before it plays Ireland next weekend, after the host nation recovered from a nervy start to beat Russia in the tournament opener on Friday night.
Japan Times
Rugby
Sep 20, 2019
Japan overcomes slow start to triumph over Russia in Rugby World Cup opener
Host nation Japan recovered from an early scare to beat rank outsider Russia 30-10 in the opening game of the 2019 Rugby World Cup on Friday night, sending a raucous crowd at Tokyo Stadium home happy.
Japan Times
Rugby
Sep 20, 2019
Rugby World Cup kicks off in Tokyo
The 2019 Rugby World Cup kicked off in spectacular style on Friday night with an opening ceremony that paid homage to traditional Japanese culture and featured All Blacks legend Richie McCaw emerging from a giant model of Mount Fuji with the trophy.
Japan Times
Rugby
Sep 20, 2019
All Blacks and Springboks set for titanic clash at Rugby World Cup
New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen is confident his team has what it takes to win an unprecedented third straight Rugby World Cup title, but for the moment he is looking no further than Saturday's monumental opening clash against archrival South Africa.
Japan Times
Rugby
Sep 19, 2019
Mind your manners and don't embarrass yourself at the Rugby World Cup
First time in Japan? Here are a couple tips that will serve you well.
Japan's population continues to fall even as foreign resident count rises
The number of residents in Tokyo as of Jan. 1 rose by 0.03% from a year before, data shows, marking a year-on-year increase for the first time in three years, while the country's other 46 prefectures saw their populations continue to decline.
Ahead of the Olympics, Japan is still talking about the gymnast who won't be there
Japan's Shoko Miyata withdrew from the gymnastics team herself over her drinking and smoking, although it had already appeared as though the association was prepared to send her home from the team’s training camp in Monaco.
Yen melt-up nudges Japanese stocks into correction territory
Japanese stocks are down 10% from their July peak as the yen strengthens.
‘Crazy’ yen rally is at risk of shattering as soon as Wednesday
Some investors are warning that a yen rally is fragile, as was on show this week when the yen rapidly retraced an advance after Thursday’s stronger-than-expected U.S. economic growth figures.
Japan's average life expectancy rises for first time in three years
A decline in COVID-19-caused deaths likely helped boost the average life expectancy for Japanese men and women to rise for the first time in three years in 2023.
The Japanese Olympians looking to shine in Paris
Rim Nakamura, who is attempting to win Japan's first Olympic gold medal in cycling, will be one of the top Japanese athletes to watch at the Paris Games.
Japan’s minimum wage set for record ¥50 hike in major boost
Demonstrators rally to demand a big hike in minimum wages in Tokyo last week.
Japan loses top spot on strongest passport list to Singapore
Japan had the strongest passport for six years running from 2018, before being dethroned by Singapore on the 2024 list.
Why Japan's mysterious stash of classified funds escapes scrutiny
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi (right) during a meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Japan eyes gold — and the future — as Olympic men's soccer campaign begins
Japan midfielder Yu Hirakawa controls the ball during a match against the United States in Kansas City, Kansas, on June 11.

Podcast

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

Longform

Traditional folk rituals like Mizudome-no-mai (dance to stop the rain) provide a sense of agency to a population that feels largely powerless in the face of the climate crisis.
As climate extremes intensify, Japan embraces ancient weather rituals
By Alex K.T. Martin

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JNTO promotes sustainable tourism initiatives

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