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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 / J. League
Feb 26, 2013
Culpi pining for Kagawa as Cerezo target J. League title
Cerezo Osaka manager Levir Culpi believes his team is capable of challenging for the J. League title this season, but the Brazilian wishes former protege and current Manchester United star Shinji Kagawa was still around to help him.
SOCCER / J. League
Feb 25, 2013
Stojkovic looking for fresh start after painful year for Grampus
Nagoya Grampus manager Dragan Stojkovic insists he never considered quitting after a traumatic 2012 season for the former J. League champions, preferring instead to concentrate on reclaiming the crown over the coming campaign.
SOCCER / J. League
Feb 24, 2013
Sato strike sends Sanfrecce past Reysol in Xerox Super Cup
Reigning J. League player of the year Hisato Sato lit up the Xerox Super Cup with a spectacular goal to give league champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima a 1-0 win over Emperor's Cup holders Kashiwa Reysol in the 2013 season curtain-raiser on Saturday.
SOCCER / J. League
Feb 23, 2013
Sanfrecce, Reysol ready to sqare off in Xerox Super Cup
Sanfrecce Hiroshima manager Hajime Moriyasu urges his team to forget last year's historic J. League title triumph and start afresh in Saturday's 2013 season curtain-raising Xerox Super Cup match against Kashiwa Reysol.
SUMO
Feb 20, 2013
Harumafuji dreaming big after overcoming early setback
Yokozuna Harumafuji insists the prospect of being forced to retire never once crossed his mind ahead of last month's dominating victory at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament, but the Mongolian refuses to speculate on how much more success he can achieve before he calls it a day.
Japan Times
SUMO
Feb 19, 2013
Harumafuji saddened by bullying incidents
Yokozuna Harumafuji on Monday condemned the recent incidents of corporal punishment that have shocked Japanese society, but insisted parents must take responsibility for ensuring their children are able to stand up for themselves.
SOCCER / J. League
Feb 8, 2013
Firebrand Okubo targeting title at new home Frontale
Yoshito Okubo is looking forward to a new challenge after joining Kawasaki Frontale ahead of the new J. League season, but the fiery forward is not about to tone down his style just because of a change in surroundings.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jan 31, 2013
Japan looking to lay down marker for 2013 in Latvia friendly
Japan will face tougher tests over the year ahead than next Wednesday's season-opening friendly against Latvia, but with World Cup qualification virtually secured more than 16 months before the tournament begins, manager Alberto Zaccheroni will be keen to start building momentum on the road to Brazil....
SOCCER / J. League
Jan 24, 2013
Tokyo goalkeeper Gonda sets bar high for coming season
FC Tokyo goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda is far too modest to accept the plaudits that have come his way after a string of fine performances for club and country last season, but there is certainly nothing humble about his ambitions for the year ahead.
SOCCER / J. League
Jan 20, 2013
Hosho captures high school soccer title in shootout win over Tachibana
Hosho of Miyazaki came through a penalty shootout to win the National High School Soccer Championship for the first time with a 5-3 victory over Kyoto Tachibana after a 2-2 draw in Saturday's final.
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Jan 17, 2013
Promoted teams hoping to buck trend with J1 survival
Teams around the J. League have been busy parading their winter recruits this week, but if the recent travails of several promoted sides are anything to go by, this year's J1 new boys will need all the reinforcements they can get.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jan 10, 2013
Kagawa returns to changed landscape at high-flying United
Shinji Kagawa will not have expected anything to come easy when he joined Manchester United last summer, but having returned from injury over the holiday period to a team that has been winning in his absence, the forward will have to work overtime to establish himself at Old Trafford.
SOCCER / J. League
Dec 30, 2012
Reysol, Gamba advance to Emperor's Cup final
Kashiwa Reysol set up a New Year's Day Emperor's Cup final showdown with Gamba Osaka after beating Yokohama F. Marinos 1-0 on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Dec 20, 2012
Departure of Club World Cup strips Japan of valuable asset
The Club World Cup undoubtedly has its flaws, but as the competition ends its long association with Japan to set up home in Morocco for the next two years, the Japanese game would do well to consider what it is losing.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Dec 18, 2012
Jubilant Corinthians on cloud nine after CWC victory
Corinthians defender Paulo Andre paid tribute to his team's formidable supporters after beating Chelsea to win the Club World Cup on Sunday night, framing it as a victory for the Brazilian people over the aristocrats of European soccer.
SOCCER
Dec 17, 2012
Guerrero carries Corinthians to CWC title against Chelsea
Paolo Guerrero headed home a 69th-minute winner to crown Corinthians world champions for the second time with a 1-0 victory over Chelsea in the Club World Cup final on Sunday.
SOCCER / World cup
Dec 16, 2012
Corinthians face major challenge against Chelsea
Corinthians manager Tite is aiming to channel the passion of his club's fanatical supporters in Sunday's Club World Cup final, but warns that Chelsea will need no second invitation to exploit any lapse in his players' resolve.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Dec 15, 2012
Chelsea takes aim at Corinthians after reaching CWC final
Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard is determined to prove the superiority of European soccer in Sunday's Club World Cup final, but warns that Brazilian opponents Corinthians have the samba magic to jeopardize his side's plans for global domination.
SOCCER / World cup
Dec 14, 2012
Chelsea punches ticket to Club World Cup final
European champions Chelsea cruised into a Club World Cup final showdown against Corinthians after beating Mexico's Monterrey 3-1 in their semifinal on Thursday night.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Dec 13, 2012
Chelsea ready to rise to challenge at Club World Cup
Chelsea defender Gary Cahill admits he is only now beginning to realize how badly rival teams want to win the Club World Cup this week, and is taking nothing for granted in Thursday's semifinal against Monterrey.
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’

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji
By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Muji has been sustainable from the beginning
Muji has been sustainable from the beginning

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