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

Feb 24, 2014

Arnold still getting used to life at Vegalta

New Vegalta Sendai manager Graham Arnold admits to being overwhelmed by the job so far, but the Australian is quietly confident of finding his feet over the coming J. League season.

SOCCER / J. League

Feb 22, 2014

Sanfrecce open with win

Teenage strikers Gakuto Notsuda and Takuma Asano put Yokohama F. Marinos to the sword as Sanfrecce Hiroshima opened the new soccer season with a 2-0 victory in the Xerox Super Cup on Saturday.

SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK

Jan 22, 2014

Popovic says Cerezo primed for title run

It is impossible to properly assess how each team will fare more than a month ahead of the start of the 2014 J. League season, but Cerezo Osaka have reason to be quietly confident about the year ahead.

SOCCER

Jan 18, 2014

Kimura eyes World Cup place

Kosuke Kimura may be Japanese soccer's best-kept secret, but the New York Red Bulls right back is hoping to announce himself on the biggest stage at this summer's World Cup.

Japan Times

SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE

Jan 8, 2014

Honda's moment arrives after long wait to join AC Milan

Keisuke Honda has waited a long time to get his shot with one of Europe's biggest clubs, but his patience should stand him in good stead as he begins life with Italian giants AC Milan this week.

Japan Times

SOCCER

Dec 16, 2013

Zaccheroni aiming for stars with World Cup ambitions

National team manager Alberto Zaccheroni on Monday refused to put a limit on Japan's ambitions at next summer's World Cup, but stopped short of claiming his team can win the trophy.

SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK

Dec 11, 2013

Sanfrecce showed mettle with late charge to claim second straight title

If Sanfrecce Hiroshima's debut title win last season was greeted with respectful but underwhelming applause, there can be no doubting their credentials now that they have successfully defended their crown.

SOCCER / J. League

Dec 10, 2013

Marinos star Nakamura honored with J.League Player of the Year award

Yokohama F. Marinos midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura was named J.League Player of the Year on Tuesday, three days after his team blew its chance to win the title on the final day of the season.

SOCCER / J. League

Dec 7, 2013

Sanfrecce defend J. League crown

Defending J. League champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima retained their title as Yokohama F. Marinos suffered a final-day meltdown with a 1-0 loss to Kawasaki Frontale on Saturday.

SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE

Dec 6, 2013

Marinos, Sanfrecce to play starring roles in season's final act

The J. League title race has gone down to the wire in all but two seasons since the single-league format was introduced in 2005, so it should come as no surprise that the destination of the trophy is still undecided going into the final day of the 2013 campaign.

SOCCER / J. League

Nov 30, 2013

Marinos miss chance to clinch

Yokohama F. Marinos blew their chance to clinch the J. League title a week early after a 2-0 defeat to Albirex Niigata on Saturday, letting Sanfrecce Hiroshima back into contention heading into the final day of the season.

SOCCER / J. League

Nov 23, 2013

Reds' title hopes take hit

Urawa Reds all but surrendered the J. League title to Yokohama F. Marinos after a 3-1 defeat to Kawasaki Frontale on Saturday.

Japan Times

SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE

Nov 21, 2013

Belgian tour provides welcome tonic for Japan

If national team manager Alberto Zaccheroni was looking for reassurance from this week's visit to Belgium, two excellent performances and results to match were a timely reminder that Japan is more than capable of making an impact at next summer's World Cup.

SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK

Nov 13, 2013

Once-mighty Jubilo's relegation ultimately no surprise

On the surface, Jubilo Iwata's relegation to the second division may appear shocking, but in reality the former J. League powerhouse's demotion has looked inevitable all season.

SOCCER

Nov 7, 2013

Zaccheroni comes out swinging ahead of Low Countries trip

Under-fire national team manager Alberto Zaccheroni has defended his record ahead of this month's friendlies against the Netherlands and Belgium, pointing to the medals he has won during his three years in charge as evidence.

Japan Times

Rugby

Nov 3, 2013

Hansen warns All Blacks to shape up

New Zealand coach Steve Hansen has warned his new-look All Blacks to stick to the game plan ahead of their tour of Europe after going rogue for periods of Saturday's 54-6 win over Japan.

Japan Times

Rugby

Nov 2, 2013

All Blacks crush Japan

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw scored a try and flyhalf Dan Carter kicked 10 points as both players returned from injury to lead New Zealand to a comfortable 54-6 win over Japan on Saturday.

SOCCER / J. League

Nov 1, 2013

Reysol's Cleo seeking Nabisco Cup final tonic after ACL exit

Kashiwa Reysol may have missed out on Asian Champions League glory this season, but on-loan striker Cleo is confident of redemption in Saturday's Nabisco Cup final against Urawa Reds.

MORE SPORTS

Oct 27, 2013

All Black absentees enjoying change of pace in Japanese league

The All Blacks are playing their first-ever away test against Japan in Tokyo on Saturday, but at club level the journey north is becoming familiar for more and more New Zealanders.

SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK

Oct 23, 2013

Marinos poised to capture first league title since 2004 as stretch run starts

Yokohama F. Marinos may hold the advantage in the J. League title race with five games remaining, but all three of the front-running teams will be confident of lifting the trophy come the end of the season.

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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