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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 / World cup
May 26, 2010
Okada denies he offered to resign
National team manager Takeshi Okada insists he did not offer to resign in the immediate aftermath of Japan's 2-0 defeat to South Korea on Monday night.
SOCCER / World cup
May 25, 2010
Japan stumbles in World Cup tuneup
SAITAMA — South Korea sent Japan off to the World Cup with plenty to think about after a 2-0 defeat on Monday night.
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
May 20, 2010
S-Pulse beating strong going into World Cup break
Shimizu S-Pulse's momentum may have faded in recent weeks, but manager Kenta Hasegawa has plenty to smile about as his side heads into the two-month World Cup shutdown on top of the J. League.
SOCCER / World cup
May 18, 2010
Technology fuels Japan's 2022 bid
Japan is banking on its reputation for technological innovation to win hosting rights for the 2022 World Cup.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
May 13, 2010
No room for sentiment as Okada separates men from boys
In the end it was simply a matter of fine-tuning for national team manager Takeshi Okada as he named a familiar squad for the World Cup on Monday. Of the few rabbits he did pull out of the hat, however, Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi should be regarded as anything but a sentimental choice.
SOCCER / World cup
May 11, 2010
Kawaguchi returns as Okada announces World Cup squad
Veteran goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi and striker Kisho Yano were the biggest surprises in an otherwise familiar selection as national team manager Takeshi Okada named his squad for the World Cup on Monday.
SOCCER / J. League
May 9, 2010
J. League's Australians keeping fingers crossed for World Cup callup
National team manager Takeshi Okada will end months of speculation when he names his World Cup squad on Monday, but for some J. League players hoping to make it to South Africa the wait must go on for one more day.
SOCCER / J. League
May 7, 2010
Stojkovic criticizes players after loss to Reds
SAITAMA — Nagoya Grampus manager Dragan Stojkovic blasted his team's "lack of intelligence" after letting a halftime lead slip in Wednesday's 2-1 defeat to Urawa Reds, holding himself up as the model for his players to aspire to.
SOCCER / J. League
May 2, 2010
Nozawa spearheads Antlers to victory over rival Gamba
KASHIMA, Ibaraki Pref. — Takuya Nozawa scored with a picture-perfect free kick as Kashima Antlers maintained their stranglehold over J. League rival Gamba Osaka with a 2-1 win on Saturday.
SOCCER / World cup
May 1, 2010
Hirayama philosophical about World Cup chances
If Cameroon, the Netherlands and Denmark think they know what to expect from Japan at this summer's World Cup, one glance at Sota Hirayama should be enough to change their minds.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Apr 29, 2010
World Cup squad taking shape ahead of May 10 decision
With national team manager Takeshi Okada set to name his World Cup squad on May 10, Soccer Scene takes a look at the candidates. Names in bold are those predicted to make the final 23-man roster:
SOCCER / J. League
Apr 25, 2010
Antlers return to form in win over Marinos
YOKOHAMA — Kashima Antlers shook off an indifferent run of form and got back to winning ways with a stylish 3-1 victory over Yokohama F. Marinos on Saturday.
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Apr 22, 2010
Time will tell if Reds revival is strong enough to last
Urawa Reds manager Volker Finke declared his side was "moving in the right direction" after Sunday's 3-0 hammering of Kawasaki Frontale, and while evidence on the pitch certainly backed him up, after last season's astonishing summer collapse it might be wiser to reserve judgment.
SOCCER / J. League
Apr 19, 2010
Urawa trounces rival Frontale, climbs into first place in J. League
SAITAMA — Urawa Reds thrashed championship rival Kawasaki Frontale 3-0 on Sunday to move into first place in the J. League.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Apr 15, 2010
Old faces need new approach with World Cup looming
National team manager Takeshi Okada has run out of games to assess contenders for his World Cup squad, but the real question now is not so much who he takes to South Africa as how he uses them.
SOCCER / World cup
Apr 8, 2010
Japan outclassed by Serbia
OSAKA — Japan's World Cup preparations took another heavy blow after being outclassed by a second-string Serbia in a 3-0 defeat on Wednesday night.
SOCCER / J. League
Apr 4, 2010
Nakamura, Kurihara hurt in loss to S-Pulse
Shinji Okazaki struck twice, Shunsuke Nakamura limped off midway through the first half and Shimizu S-Pulse held off a frantic late onslaught to beat Yokohama F. Marinos 2-1 on Saturday.
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Apr 1, 2010
Just business as usual for league-leading Antlers
If Kashima Antlers' rivals were hoping the champions' thirst for success had been quenched by three straight championships, the first month of the new campaign suggests otherwise.
SOCCER / J. League
Mar 28, 2010
S-Pulse waste opportunity against fatigued Frontale
Shimizu S-Pulse failed to take advantage of Kawasaki Frontale's early-season fatigue in a flat 0-0 draw on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Mar 25, 2010
Honda breathes life into Japan's World Cup aspirations
When Keisuke Honda arrived at Narita airport late last month for Japan's Asian Cup qualifier against Bahrain, he insisted he was "no savior" for a national team that had seriously lost its way. But with every impressive performance he gives, the 23-year-old is finding it harder to get people to listen....
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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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

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