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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Rugby
Sep 19, 2019
Retooled Brave Blossoms look to take world by storm
Japan head coach Jamie Joseph has a clear goal for the 2019 Rugby World Cup — lead his team to the quarterfinals for the first time in history.
Rugby
Sep 19, 2019
Japan hosts groundbreaking Rugby World Cup
The eyes of the world will be on Tokyo on Friday when Japan kicks off the 2019 Rugby World Cup in the opening game against Russia, taking the tournament outside its traditional heartlands for the first time.
Rugby
Sep 19, 2019
Brave Blossoms admit nervousness and excitement before RWC opener against Russia
Japan national team players on Thursday confessed to feeling nervous ahead of Friday's opening game of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, but are confident the excitement of the occasion will sweep away the butterflies when the host nation faces Russia at Tokyo Stadium.
PODCAST / deep dive
Sep 18, 2019
Episode 23: Welcome to the land of the rising scrum — Rugby World Cup 2019 special
This week, we talk to the Rugby World Cup chief, Japan Times rugby experts and a triple-cancer survivor who has cycled from the U.K. to Japan for the games.
Japan's biggest beef bowl chain Sukiya to shut nearly 2,000 stores after rat and bug contamination
Zensho Holdings, operator of fast-food chain Sukiya, said it will close all of its stores in Japan, except for a small number in shopping centers, between Monday and Friday following recent contamination incidents.
Alert raised for volcano in southwestern Japan
Shinmoedake, a volcano located between Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures, in November 2019
Japan considers all possible options as Trump threatens new auto tariffs
Subaru cars awaiting export at a port in Yokohama on Thursday.
Nankai Trough earthquake could kill 298,000 people, government says
Residents participate in an evacuation drill held with West Japan Railway in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, in January 2024 to prepare for a Nankai Trough earthquake and a possible tsunami following the quake.
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.
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
By Johan Brooks

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