Andrew MCKIRDY - The Japan Times

September 07, 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 / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK

Oct 29, 2014

Urawa, Gamba break clear of pack

Stranger things have happened in the J. League, but with four games of the season remaining, the title race is now almost certainly down to two teams.

SOCCER / J. League

Oct 26, 2014

Cerezo, Marinos settle for scoreless draw

Cerezo Osaka failed to seize the initiative in their fight against relegation after being held to a 0-0 draw by Yokohama F. Marinos on Sunday.

SOCCER / J. League

Oct 18, 2014

Antlers squander lead twice in defeat to Reysol

Kashima Antlers wasted a glorious chance to make up ground in the J. League title race after twice throwing away a lead before conceding in the 90th minute to lose 3-2 to Kashiwa Reysol on Saturday.

SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE

Oct 8, 2014

Aguirre focuses on team building

Javier Aguirre will be looking for positive performances in Japan's friendlies against Jamaica and Brazil over the coming week, but after failing to register a win in his first two games as manager, positive results would be even more welcome.

SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK

Oct 1, 2014

Leading group sheds makeweights as season gets down to nitty-gritty

The last few weeks have whittled down the list of genuine contenders for this year's J. League title, but choosing a winner with eight games left is still far from straightforward.

SOCCER / J. League

Sep 23, 2014

Struggling Sagan Tosu fall nine points behind Urawa Reds in standings

Sagan Tosu lost further ground in the J. League title race after a 2-0 defeat to Kashiwa Reysol on Tuesday night left them nine points adrift of leaders Urawa Reds.

Japan Times

Rugby

Sep 18, 2014

Japan coach Jones says team sets target of reaching 2015 Rugby World Cup quarterfinals

National rugby team head coach Eddie Jones believes Japan can reach the quarterfinals of next year's Rugby World Cup by flummoxing the opposition with "samurai eyes and ninja bodies."

Japan Times

SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE

Sep 15, 2014

Kagawa capable of making most of fresh start at Dortmund

It cannot have been easy for Shinji Kagawa to leave Manchester United, but if his performance in his first game since returning to Borussia Dortmund is anything to go by, the move is definitely in his best interests.

Japan Times

SOCCER / World cup

Sep 10, 2014

Aguirre urges Samurai Blue to play with more imagination

National team manager Javier Aguirre has urged his players to think for themselves after watching his new side fail to register a win in his first two games in charge.

SOCCER / World cup

Sep 10, 2014

Aguirre urges Japan to play with more imagination

National team manager Javier Aguirre has urged his players to think for themselves after watching his new side fail to register a win in his first two games in charge.

SOCCER / World cup

Sep 9, 2014

Japan squanders lead twice in draw with Venezuela

Japan twice took the lead but failed to deliver a first win for new manager Javier Aguirre in a 2-2 friendly draw with Venezuela on Tuesday night.

SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE

Sep 3, 2014

Aguirre ready to start work rebuilding Japan from scratch

Japan begins a new era on Friday night as manager Javier Aguirre leads the team out for the first time, and if first impressions of the Mexican are anything to go by, the next four years should be an interesting journey.

SOCCER / J. League

Aug 30, 2014

Reds trounce Ardija, increase lead atop J. League table

J. League front-runners Urawa Reds thrashed relegation-threatened local rivals Omiya Ardija 4-0 on Saturday to extend their lead at the top of the table.

SOCCER / World cup

Aug 28, 2014

Aguirre shakes up Japan national squad lineup for upcoming friendlies

New national team manager Javier Aguirre warned Japan's World Cup flops that their reputations will count for nothing as he named his first squad on Thursday.

Japan Times

SOCCER / World cup

Jul 31, 2014

Star Neymar eager to shine in upcoming season

Brazil and Barcelona star Neymar insists he has almost recovered from the injury that ended his World Cup dream, and is raring to go for the new club season.

SOCCER / J. League

Jul 27, 2014

Reds surrender first goal in 660 minutes in draw with Antlers

Urawa Reds saw their record run of clean sheets come to an end but stayed on top the J. League table after a 1-1 draw with Kashima Antlers on Saturday.

SOCCER / World cup

Jul 25, 2014

Nishimura doesn't dwell on World Cup controversy

World Cup referee Yuichi Nishimura has shrugged off the controversy that surrounded his decision to award Brazil a penalty in the tournament's opening game, but admitted that being a referee is no easy task.

SOCCER / World cup

Jul 24, 2014

Aguirre confirmed as Japan's next manager

The Japan Football Association on Thursday officially named Mexican Javier Aguirre as Japan's new national team manager.

SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK

Jul 21, 2014

Return from shutdown helps to forget World Cup woes

The return of J. League action is unlikely to ease the disappointment for soccer fans still sore from Japan's dismal World Cup showing, but a glut of goals as the league resumed in full on Saturday at least provided a welcome distraction.

Japan Times

SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE

Jun 26, 2014

Results show Japan still far from ready for prime time

There are few if any positives to take from Japan's hugely disappointing World Cup campaign, but the team must make sure that the lessons of Brazil do not go unheeded.

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Tetsuzo Shiraishi, speaking at The Center of the Tokyo Raids and War Damage, uses a thermos to explain how he experienced the U.S. firebombing of March 1945, when he was just 7 years old.

From ashes to high-rises: A survivor’s account of Tokyo’s postwar past

By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

We are pleased to announce the winners of the 6th annual Sustainable Japan Award.

We are pleased to announce the winners of the 6th annual Sustainable Japan Award.

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