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July 05, 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
Jul 1, 2016
Teguramori confident about Japan's medal chances in Rio
Japan Olympic men's soccer team manager Makoto Teguramori set his sights on the gold medal as he announced his 18-man squad for the Rio Games on Friday.
Rugby
Jun 30, 2016
Kyoto selected to host draw for 2019 Rugby World Cup
Kyoto will host the draw for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in May next year, tournament organizers announced on Thursday.
Rugby
Jun 26, 2016
Japan looks to future after narrow defeat to Scotland
Japan back-row forward Amanaki Lelei Mafi admits that the absence of injured Rugby World Cup stars including Ayumu Goromaru and Michael Leitch hurt the Brave Blossoms in their two test-match defeats to Scotland.
Rugby
Jun 25, 2016
Laidlaw leads Scotland to triumph over Brave Blossoms
Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw came off the bench to deny Japan a famous victory as the Brave Blossoms fell to a 21-16 defeat on Saturday.
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Jun 14, 2016
Three clubs remain in race for first-stage title
The J. League first-stage title may ultimately count for nothing when the championship playoffs begin in November, but that will not stop the current front-runners from wanting to claim the silverware.
SOCCER / J. League
Jun 11, 2016
Antlers prevail over Reds, remain in hunt for first-stage title
Kashima Antlers kept themselves firmly in contention for the J. League first-stage title after a 2-0 away win over Urawa Reds on Saturday.
MORE SPORTS
Jun 7, 2016
How a bizarre 'bout of the century' between Muhammad Ali and Antonio Inoki led to a firm friendship
Of all the episodes in the iconic boxing career of Muhammad Ali, who died Friday at age 74, perhaps the most curious came in a Japanese ring.
SOCCER / J. League
May 29, 2016
Frontale escape with home victory after Iwata's 88th-minute own goal
Kawasaki Frontale stayed top of the J. League table after an 88th-minute own goal by defender Daiki Ogawa handed them a 1-0 win over Jubilo Iwata on Sunday.
JAPAN
May 26, 2016
IOC execs stand with scandal-hit Tokyo 2020 organizers
International Olympic Committee executives put on a show of solidarity after arriving in Japan to check on preparations.
SOCCER / J. League
May 21, 2016
Wako header gives Reysol triumph over Avispa
Naoki Wako scored an 86th-minute header to give Kashiwa Reysol a roller-coaster 3-2 win over Avispa Fukuoka on Saturday.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
May 17, 2016
Kanagawa woman, 26, taps crowdfunding to raise money for her spouse search
From tech products to movies, the recent advent of crowdfunding has allowed companies and creators to make their dreams a reality.
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
May 11, 2016
Gamba, Tokyo running out of time to get going in J. League
Fortunes can change quickly in the J. League, but the division's misfiring big guns will have to start finding their range soon if they want to make a mark this season.
BASKETBALL
May 10, 2016
Australia women's squad completes three-game sweep of Japan
The Japan women's basketball team gave world No. 2 Australia a huge fright before succumbing to an 84-73 loss to suffer a series sweep on Tuesday.
MORE SPORTS
May 8, 2016
Gatlin keeps focus on Bolt after triumph in Kawasaki
Justin Gatlin geared up his bid to unseat sprint king Usain Bolt at this summer's Rio Olympics with a time of 10.02 seconds to win the 100 meters at the Golden Grand Prix on Sunday.
Japan Times
Rugby
May 7, 2016
Western Force whip Sunwolves
The Sunwolves came crashing back to earth two weeks after their first Super Rugby victory with a 40-22 loss to Australia's Western Force on Saturday.
SOCCER / J. League
May 7, 2016
Endo aiming for medal in Rio
Urawa Reds defender Wataru Endo is expecting a feisty atmosphere in his first Saitama derby against Omiya Ardija on Sunday.
SOCCER / J. League
Apr 30, 2016
Antlers fall further back in pursuit of first-stage title
Kashima Antlers lost further ground in the race for the J. League first-stage title after a 0-0 draw with Omiya Ardija on Saturday.
JAPAN
Apr 25, 2016
Checkered pattern by artist Tokolo chosen as logo for 2020 Tokyo Olympics
Tokyo 2020 Olympics organizers pick a stark indigo-and-white checkered circle as the games' replacement emblem after the original design was scrapped last year amid claims of plagiarism.
SOCCER / J. League
Apr 24, 2016
Urawa moves into first place after knocking Kawasaki off J. League perch
Urawa Reds ended Kawasaki Frontale's unbeaten start to the J. League season and replaced them at the top of the table with a 1-0 win on Sunday.
MORE SPORTS
Apr 15, 2016
Hagino ready to meet Olympic challenge head-on
Japan's Olympic poster boy Kosuke Hagino insists he can handle the pressure of the nation's expectations as he bids for swimming glory at this summer's Rio Games.
A prophesied disaster (likely) won’t strike Japan this weekend
A viral manga prediction of a July 5 disaster has gripped Japan with anxiety and triggered an economic impact, but experts warn that while such dates are unreliable, the threat of a massive earthquake remains real. 
Magnitude 5.5 earthquake jars Tokara Islands amid flurry of seismic activity
A strong quake struck off the Tokara Islands on Thursday afternoon, with the island chain having recorded around 1,000 earthquakes since a burst of seismic activity first began on June 21.
Japan to require flight passengers to keep power banks within sight
The transport ministry has announced new regulations requiring flight passengers to keep power banks within sight to mitigate fire risks while on board planes.
Ghibli’s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
“The man who planted Japanese animation” exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Residents of Tokara Islands begin evacuation as seismic swarm continues
Details about evacuations from Akuseki Island, located in the Tokara island chain in Kagoshima Prefecture, is seen written on a whiteboard in the city of Kagoshima on Thursday.
Ghibli’s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
“The man who planted Japanese animation” exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Flag football facing challenges and opportunities ahead
Japan’s women’s flag football team at the 2025 International Bowl in Los Angeles in June. The sport is enjoying continued growth in the country.
From Hokusai’s Great Wave, shinkansen to One Piece: a cultural treasure box for Lego Japan
Michael Ebbesen, general manager of Lego Japan, says Lego bricks based on Japanese culture have a rich global appeal and are sellable around the world.
With farmed fish, RelationFish swims against the tide in fine dining
Chef Hideaki Matsuo (middle) and the staff of Oseto Suisan Fisheries prepare to check on their sustainably farmed fish.
As Southeast Asia heats up, a Japanese cooling giant sees a major opportunity
An employee of Daikin Cambodia explains the use of different tools during an air conditioner installation training session in Phnom Penh. Daikin is one of Japan’s oldest air conditioning companies, but as Japan’s population falls, the firm is keying in on overseas growth.

Podcast

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

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What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji
By Alex K.T. Martin

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