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July 04, 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.
Members of the Japan Coast Guard prepare to toss a dummy into the sea for a rescue operation simulation during a maritime exercise with the Philippine Coast Guard ship Teresa Magbanua, the United States Coast Guard cutter Stratton and the Japan Coast Guard ship Asanagi in the waters around the southern city of Kagoshima on Friday.
JAPAN
Jun 21, 2025
Japan, U.S. and Philippine coast guards simulate crisis amid China threat
The joint coast guard exercises held off Japan's southwest shore follow a warning from the three countries about Chinese activity in disputed regional waters.
Japan captain Mai Yanagida bats against Hong Kong during the women's Sano City International Trophy cricket tournament on June 4 in Sano, Tochigi Prefecture.
MORE SPORTS / Cricket
Jun 15, 2025
From samurai threat to Asian Games as Japan cricket fights obscurity
Japan's cricket association says the sport is slowly gaining popularity and hopes next year's home Asian Games and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics can take it to a new level.
Urawa's supporters cheer before the J. League football match against Fagiano Okayama at Saitama Stadium 2002 on March 8, 2025.
SOCCER / J. League
Jun 10, 2025
With shades of Man Utd, Urawa vows to bring the noise at Club World Cup
While the fallen English giants won't be at the Club World Cup, Urawa Reds will and are set to be roared on in the United States by more than 5,000 followers.
Hideo Nakata, deputy mayor of Nagoya, waves the Olympic Council of Asia flag as Aichi Gov. Hideaki Omura watches during the closing ceremony of the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, on Oct. 8, 2023.
MORE SPORTS
Jun 5, 2025
Organizers to house athletes on 'floating village' during 2026 Asian Games
Organizers will lease a luxury cruise liner that will be docked at Nagoya's port.
Zico, Brazilian soccer legend and current technical director for Kashima Antlers, poses following an interview at the Antlers's training ground in Kashima, Ibaraki Prefecture, on May 28.
SOCCER
Jun 3, 2025
Zico warns Japanese players not to follow Brazilians into transfer trap
The 72-year-old says Japanese players looking beyond the J. League is a "positive" development — as long as they move at the right time.
Toshiba's Richie Mo'unga runs with the ball at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium on May 24.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Jun 2, 2025
Mo'unga shrugs off broken hand to win Japanese title
The fly-half has finished every season in top-level domestic rugby since 2017 with a winner's medal, and he picked up another with Toshiba.
Japan's Rui Hachimura walks off the court after being disqualified for a second unsportsmanlike foul against France at the Paris Olympics in July last year.
BASKETBALL / B. League
May 6, 2025
Basketball bust-ups threaten ambitious Japan's hoop dreams
A row involving star player Rui Hachimura and disagreements over the domestic league's direction mean the path ahead is full of hurdles.
Okayama goalkeeper Svend Brodersen reaches for the ball against Urawa's Thiago Santana (front) at Saitama Stadium on March 8.
SOCCER / J. League
Mar 18, 2025
Manga-loving German goalkeeper finds peace, and himself, in Japan
Svend Brodersen moved to Japan in 2021 and now plays for top-tier J. League side Fagiano Okayama, but he admits that initially he felt like he was "on another planet."
Athletes compete in the men's 1,500-meter heats in front of empty stands at the National Stadium in Tokyo during the Tokyo Games in August 2021.
OLYMPICS / Athletics
Feb 7, 2025
Tokyo world athletics party can make up for Olympic lockout, says CEO
Organizing committee head Takashi Takeichi is confident that all nine days of the World Athletics Championships will be sold out.
Hoshoryu (center), sumo's newest yokozuna, performs the ring-entrance ceremony at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo on Friday.
SUMO
Jan 31, 2025
Tokyo crowd welcomes sumo's newest grand champion in ancient ceremony
Mongolian-born Hoshoryu became the 74th yokozuna in sumo history this week after winning the second tournament of his career.
International Gymnastics Federation chief Morinari Watanabe in Tokyo on Thursday
OLYMPICS
Jan 14, 2025
IOC long shot Watanabe hopes 'crazy' Olympic idea sparks debate
Morinari Watanabe is proposing to host the Games simultaneously in five cities across five continents.
Yokohama F. Marinos coach Steve Holland holds a news conference in Yokohama on Saturday.
SOCCER / J. League
Jan 11, 2025
Steve Holland ready to step out of Gareth Southgate's shadow in Japan
The 54-year-old, who will coach Yokohama F. Marinos this season, was the right-hand man to Southgate during their eight years together with England.
High school soccer teams during the opening ceremony for the national championships on Saturday at National Stadium in Tokyo.
SOCCER
Dec 29, 2024
Drama and dreams: Japan's wildly popular school soccer tourney breeds future stars
The annual tournament kicked off on Saturday, with young players dreaming of playing in the final in front of tens of thousands at National Stadium in Tokyo.
A World Series public-viewing event in Oshu, Iwate Prefecture, on Wednesday.
BASEBALL
Oct 30, 2024
'A treasure': Win or lose, Ohtani is a hometown hero in Iwate
Anticipation was high among the roughly 60 supporters who gathered early in the morning to watch Ohtani and the Dodgers try to clinch the World Series.
Urawa's Yu Endo (right) competes for the ball with Kobe's Yui Narumiya during a match in Osaka in January.
SOCCER
Oct 2, 2024
Champions League can put Asian women's soccer on map, players say
Women's soccer in Europe and North America is in rude health, but Asia has fallen behind.
France's Arthur Fils celebrates with the winner's trophy after his victory over Ugo Humbert in the men's singles final of the Japan Open in Tokyo on Tuesday.
TENNIS
Oct 2, 2024
Fils saves match point to beat Humbert in all-French Japan Open final
Fils, the world No. 24, came back from the brink in the second set to edge his Paris Olympics doubles partner in a little over three hours in Tokyo.
France's Ugo Humbert hits a return against Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic during their men's singles semifinal match at the ATP Japan Open tennis tournament in Tokyo on Monday.
TENNIS
Oct 1, 2024
Humbert to face Fils in all-French Japan Open final
Tuesday's match will be the first all-French final on the ATP tour in four years.
Kei Nishikori hits a return against Holger Rune during their Japan Open quarterfinal match on Sunday.
TENNIS
Sep 30, 2024
Kei Nishikori misses out on semifinal spot after Holger Rune fights back from brink
Rune, the No. 6 six seed, came back from the brink to win four straight games and end the Japanese veteran's challenge in front of a lively crowd in Tokyo.
Kei Nishikori hits a return against Jordan Thompson during their second-round match at the Japan Open in Tokyo on Saturday.
TENNIS
Sep 28, 2024
Kei Nishikori advances to quarters at a Japan Open full of upsets
In other action, fifth seed Tommy Paul became the latest top player to make an early exit as he lost to Tomas Machac in the second round on Saturday.
Brighton & Hove Albion's Kaoru Mitoma (left) in action with Arsenal's Ben White at Emirates Stadium in London on Aug. 31
SOCCER
Sep 17, 2024
Japanese players in vogue as British clubs widen horizons
"It feels like there is more interest in Japanese players from around the world," says Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo.
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.
Onosato's yokozuna promotion causes rare quirk in new sumo rankings
Newly promoted yokozuna Onosato holds a copy of the latest banzuke ranking in Anjo, Aichi Prefecture, on Monday.
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. 
Over 900 earthquakes strike Tokara islands in space of two weeks
A screenshot shows many quakes occurring in the Tokara islands over the past 30 days, in this image taken from the U.S. Geological Survey website.
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."
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.

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