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November 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.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / The Climate Crisis
Jan 11, 2020
Throwaway society: Rejecting a life consumed by plastic
How much single-use plastic do you think you consume in an average week living in Japan?
JAPAN / New Year's Special
Jan 1, 2020
Paralympians hope to bring event out of Olympic shadow with Tokyo Games
Sprinter Shunsuke Itani is young, tall, handsome and a contender to win a medal on the track in Tokyo this summer.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Nov 30, 2019
Step up to the plate: Breaking world records in Japan
Have you ever wondered what it must feel like to be the best in the world at something?
Japan Times
Rugby
Nov 3, 2019
World champion Springboks hope victory will inspire nation
South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus expressed hope that his team's victory in the Rugby World Cup final against England on Saturday can inspire his nation, but dismissed the notion that the Springboks were under pressure at the tournament.
Japan Times
Rugby
Nov 2, 2019
South Africa 32, England 12: Springboks take home RWC trophy for third time
South Africa lifted the Rugby World Cup for the third time after a clinical 32-12 victory over England in Saturday's final.
Rugby
Nov 2, 2019
Steve Hansen says World Cup pain will fuel All Blacks
Outgoing New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen warned the rest of the rugby world to expect a backlash from the dethroned Rugby World Cup champions over the next four years, after leading the All Blacks to a third-place finish on Friday night.
Japan Times
Rugby
Nov 1, 2019
New Zealand hammers Wales in bronze-medal match
New Zealand claimed third place at the Rugby World Cup with a 40-17 win over Wales on Friday night.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 31, 2019
England coach Eddie Jones makes no changes for Rugby World Cup final
England head coach Eddie Jones has warned Rugby World Cup final opponent South Africa that his team is capable of improving on last week's semifinal destruction of two-time defending champion New Zealand when the two sides meet in Yokohama on Saturday.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 30, 2019
Springboks keeping eyes on prize ahead of RWC final
South Africa's Rugby World Cup players know how much lifting the trophy for a third time on Saturday would mean to their country — but they are looking no further than final opponent England.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 28, 2019
Triumphant Springboks carrying national pride into Rugby World Cup final
South Africa's Rugby World Cup players are hoping an "inspirational" groundswell of support back home can help them lift the Webb Ellis Cup for a third time this coming Saturday, after booking their place in the final on Sunday with a nerve-shredding win over Wales.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 27, 2019
South Africa outlasts Wales in semifinal thriller to reach Rugby World Cup final
Handre Pollard slotted a penalty with four minutes remaining to send South Africa into the Rugby World Cup final after a nail-biting 19-16 win over Wales on Sunday.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 27, 2019
Ice-cold England channels inner peace to reach Rugby World Cup final
England captain Owen Farrell credited his team's Zen-like inner peace for carrying it into the Rugby World Cup final after ending New Zealand's eight-year reign as champion on Saturday night.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 26, 2019
England ends All Blacks' reign in Rugby World Cup
England ended New Zealand's reign as Rugby World Cup champion in the semifinals on Saturday, beating the All Blacks 19-7 to reach the final for the first time since 2007.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 25, 2019
England players united for battle with All Blacks
England fullback Elliot Daly says his team is more united than ever as it prepares to face New Zealand in Saturday's Rugby World Cup semifinal.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 25, 2019
Springboks will rely on pack against Wales
South Africa standoff Handre Pollard believes his team's backs have the pace and skill to trouble Wales in Sunday's Rugby World Cup semifinal — if they can get the ball off their forward teammates for long enough.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 24, 2019
Coach Steve Hansen says pressure is on his All Blacks — but on England too
New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen on Thursday brushed off attempts to add spice to his team's Rugby World Cup semifinal against England, dismissing claims of spying by England head coach Eddie Jones as "clickbait."
JAPAN
Oct 23, 2019
Fans toast beer hawkers' debut at Rugby World Cup
Dilemma: You are watching a Rugby World Cup game at a stadium and you fancy a beer, but you don't want to take your eyes off the action.
Rugby
Oct 23, 2019
Wales hopes to reach first final by matching Springboks' physicality
Wales hooker Ken Owens says his team is ready to stand up to South Africa's physical might and fight fire with fire when the two teams meet in Sunday's Rugby World Cup semifinal.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 21, 2019
Brave Blossoms rue quarterfinal exit, but take pride in their Rugby World Cup heroics
Japan's Rugby World Cup players expressed mixed feelings as their incredible campaign came to an end with a quarterfinal defeat to South Africa on Sunday, with pride in their achievements largely crowding out the disappointment.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 20, 2019
South Africa routs Japan to advance to Rugby World Cup semifinals
South Africa ended Japan's phenomenal run at the Rugby World Cup with a 26-3 win in Sunday night's quarterfinal.
The unstoppable rise of konbini tourism
Guests typically follow Ryo Ito’s lead as he weaves through the narrow, colorful aisles of convenience stores.
More Japanese universities pushing toward teaching in English
Waseda University in Tokyo
A narrow Pacific waterway at heart of U.S. plans to choke China’s vast navy
Philippine and Australian troops fire an M777 howitzer during live fire exercises as part of joint military drills in Laur, Nueva Ecija, the Philippines, in August.
Trump would make U.S. Supreme Court history by attending tariffs case
There is no record in the U.S. Supreme Court’s 235-year history of a sitting president ever attending arguments, according to Clare Cushman, director of publications and resident historian at the Supreme Court Historical Society.
Dodgers clinch back-to-back World Series titles as Blue Jays downed in thriller
Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto and teammates celebrate after winning the World Series against the Blue Jays. Yamamoto was named MVP for the series.
How airlines are refining their in-flight food in Japan's tourism boom
All Nippon Airways' gourmet program, The Connoisseurs, showcases the Japanese concept of "shun" (peak season for ingredients), giving passengers a preview of the refined cuisine that awaits them in Japan.
The unstoppable rise of konbini tourism
Guests typically follow Ryo Ito’s lead as he weaves through the narrow, colorful aisles of convenience stores.
Anime isn’t competing with Hollywood — it’s beating it
After its July release, “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba — Infinity Castle,” an animated feature adapted directly from a TV arc, became the highest-grossing Japanese film ever.
Oasis returns to Japan after 16 years — and fans can still sing every word
Liam Gallagher commanded the stage with effortless charisma during Oasis' Tokyo Dome set on Saturday.
At Japan Mobility Show, BYD gears up to conquer Japan's EV market
BYD Auto Japan President Atsuki Tofukuji unveils the Racco at the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo on Wednesday.

Podcast

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

Longform

Once smoky, male-dominated spaces, today's net cafes, like Kaikatsu Club, are working to make their operations more attractive to women customers.
The second life of Japan's net cafes
By Alex K.T. Martin

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