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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
Nov 4, 2010
Jubilo's Maeda strikes twice in thrilling Nabisco Cup final triumph
Jubilo Iwata came back from the dead to claim their first trophy in seven years with a breathless 5-3 extra-time win over Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the Nabisco Cup final on Wednesday.
SOCCER / J. League
Oct 24, 2010
Gonda stands tall late as FC Tokyo earns point
Shuichi Gonda saved a last-minute penalty to rescue a 1-1 draw for relegation-threatened FC Tokyo against Albirex Niigata on Saturday.
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Oct 21, 2010
Relegation battle heats up as title race cools down
An unexpected defeat for Nagoya Grampus has reined in the J. League's one-horse title race — for now at least — but the competition at the other end of the table is just getting started.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Oct 14, 2010
Zaccheroni hits ground running as new era starts in style
Alberto Zaccheroni is only taking his first steps as national team manager, but already he has hit his stride.
SOCCER / World cup
Oct 10, 2010
Zaccheroni believes Japan can build off big victory over Argentina
SAITAMA — New national team manager Alberto Zaccheroni has urged his players to shed their inferiority complex and start believing they can beat the world's best, pointing to Friday night's remarkable win over Argentina as evidence.
TENNIS
Oct 6, 2010
Nadal shakes off fatigue, tops No. 63 Giraldo
Rafael Nadal was made to sweat without ever looking in serious danger as the world No. 1 marked his Japan Open debut with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Santiago Giraldo on Tuesday.
TENNIS
Oct 5, 2010
Hungry Nadal looking for more glory at Japan Open
Rafael Nadal insists his appetite has not been sated by completing a career Grand Slam with victory at the U.S. Open last month, and intends to prove it at this week's Japan Open.
TENNIS
Oct 3, 2010
Wozniacki closes in on world No. 1 ranking
Caroline Wozniacki moved a step closer to her first world No. 1 ranking after rallying to beat Elena Dementieva 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 for the Pan Pacific Open title on Saturday.
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Sep 30, 2010
Gamba making late surge to join championship race
As another round of J. League games passes, another title contender emerges.
TENNIS
Sep 29, 2010
Determined Date Krumm reaches third round on 40th birthday
Kimiko Date Krumm celebrated her 40th birthday with a place in the third round of the Pan Pacific Open on Tuesday after opponent Daniela Hantuchova retired injured while trailing their match 2-6, 6-0, 4-0.
SOCCER / J. League
Sep 26, 2010
FC Tokyo's Okuma comes up short in return to top job
Omiya Ardija ruined Kiyoshi Okuma's second coming as FC Tokyo manager with a 1-0 win that plunged the capital city club even deeper into the relegation quagmire on Saturday.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Sep 23, 2010
Kagawa hits headlines as Jofuku becomes yesterday's news
In the ever-changing, always-moving world of soccer, reputations do not stand still for long. After a weekend of contrasting fortunes at home and abroad, Hiroshi Jofuku and Shinji Kagawa can attest to that.
SOCCER / J. League
Sep 19, 2010
Marquinhos propels Antlers past Ardija
KASHIMA, Ibaraki Pref. — A hat trick from Marquinhos gave Kashima Antlers a no-nonsense 3-0 win over Omiya Ardija on Saturday and trimmed Nagoya Grampus' cushion at the top of the J. League to five points.
SOCCER / J. League
Sep 18, 2010
Konno adjusts as FC Tokyo fights relegation
Relegation was not a word Yasuyuki Konno expected to hear much when spring ushered in the new J. League season back in March.
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Sep 16, 2010
Level playing field keeps Grampus' feet on ground
Nagoya Grampus opened up a seven-point gap at the top of the J. League last weekend, but manager Dragan Stojkovic has been around the Japanese game far too long to start celebrating yet.
SOCCER / J. League
Sep 12, 2010
S-Pulse's title hopes take hit against upset-minded Ardija
SAITAMA — Omiya Ardija put a crimp on Shimizu S-Pulse's title ambitions and boosted their own hopes of first-division survival with a 3-0 win on Saturday.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Sep 9, 2010
Hara serves up feast for Zaccheroni's first taste of Japan
Alberto Zaccheroni talked of Japan's "potential" when he was unveiled as national team manager last Tuesday, and the Italian's first glimpse of his new charges can only have reinforced that impression.
SOCCER / World cup
Sep 5, 2010
Kagawa's goal lifts Japan in rematch against Paraguay
YOKOHAMA — Japan gained a measure of revenge for this summer's World Cup exit by beating second-round conqueror Paraguay 1-0 on Saturday night.
SOCCER / World cup
Sep 4, 2010
Hara encourages Japan to impress Zaccheroni
YOKOHAMA — National team caretaker Hiromi Hara has urged his players to seize their chance to impress incoming manager Alberto Zaccheroni in Saturday's friendly against Paraguay.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Sep 2, 2010
Zaccheroni appointment ends painful search for manager
It is unfair to tar Alberto Zaccheroni with the brush that brought him here, but the Japan Football Association's search for a new national team manager has been a messy affair.
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.

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One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
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What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji
By Alex K.T. Martin

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