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September 01, 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.
Germany's Dennis Schroder lifts the trophy after his team's win over Serbia in the Basketball World Cup final in Manila on Sunday.
BASKETBALL
Sep 11, 2023
'Team-first' mentality carries Germany to first Basketball World Cup title
Both Germany and Serbia had already qualified for next year's Paris Olympics as the World Cup's two highest-placed European teams.
Japan center Dylan Riley (left) escapes from Italy's center Luca Morisi during a match on Aug. 26.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Aug 31, 2023
Japan ready to shake off COVID-19 legacy at Rugby World Cup
The Brave Blossoms beat Ireland and Scotland to reach the quarterfinals for the first time four years ago, sparking rugby-mania across the nation.
SOCCER / Women's World Cup
Jul 21, 2023
Nadeshiko Japan's Women's World Cup glory now distant memory as nation lags far behind rivals
Japan begins its latest World Cup campaign against Zambia on Saturday, but is ranked 11th now and no longer among the favorites.
SOCCER / Women's World Cup
Jul 12, 2023
Fukushima-born Jun Endo ready to run free for Japan at World Cup
The Angel City forward recalls watching the 2011 final in the middle of the night with her parents and three siblings, describing it as 'a turning point' in her life.
Rugby
Jun 20, 2023
Ethnic Korean Lee Seung-sin hopes to set example in Japan's RWC squad
The fly-half was among 36 players named in Japan's test squad as Jamie Joseph begins his preparations for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Jun 13, 2023
Speed demons: the 'uriko' beer vendors of Japanese baseball
At Tokyo Dome, vendors sell an average of about 20,000 glasses of beer at a night game.
Japan Times
Rugby
Jun 12, 2023
Jamie Joseph confident Brave Blossoms' style can give England trouble at Rugby World Cup
Joseph, who led Japan to the quarterfinals in 2019, says his team can 'achieve anything.'
Rugby
May 21, 2023
Spears' Bernard Foley stakes World Cup claim with League One title
The 33-year-old is vying with several players including Quade Cooper, Ben Donaldson, Carter Gordon and Noah Lolesio for the Wallabies' No. 10 shirt.
Japan Times
Rugby
May 9, 2023
Faf de Klerk says Springboks motivated to 'prove world wrong'
The feisty scrum-half believes the underdog tag fits the fourth-ranked defending world champions ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
SOCCER
Apr 27, 2023
Urawa and Al Hilal ready to finally meet for Asian Champions League title
The winter World Cup in Qatar and travel complications caused by COVID-19 mean Asian soccer has yet to crown its 2022 champion more than a year after the competition began.
Japan Times
LIFE
Apr 25, 2023
Gaudy cartoon cars turn heads in Japan
Perceptions of 'itasha,' cars covered in gaudy images of anime and manga characters, have begun to change, with hobby subcultures gaining a new mainstream acceptance in Japan.
Japan Times
LIFE
Mar 7, 2023
Living doll: Licca-chan casts a spell on Japan's adults
Some adult fans of the toy have formed an online community where they can swap homemade garments and accessories.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Feb 17, 2023
Tokyo approves plan to demolish historic Jingu Stadium despite public outcry
Jingu Stadium is one of only four stadiums where Babe Ruth played that still exists.
SOCCER
Feb 14, 2023
How Kaoru Mitoma studied his way to Premier League stardom
The Samurai Blue winger developed his dribbling skills while completing a four-year physical education degree at Japan's University of Tsukuba.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Feb 7, 2023
'Captain Tsubasa' creator aiming for real-life soccer success
Takahashi has played a big part in helping soccer culture take root in Japan, and believes there is room for it to grow further.
Japan Times
Rugby
Jan 26, 2023
England's Launchbury says more players could move to Japan
The 31-year-old lock left stricken English giants Wasps in November to sign a one-season deal with Toyota Verblitz.
Japan Times
TENNIS
Jan 9, 2023
Naomi Osaka's withdrawal from Australian Open raises questions about star's future
Tennis writer Ben Rothenberg, who has authored a biography of Osaka due out later this year, believes she has already taken a 'meaningful step back' from the sport.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Dec 14, 2022
Bantamweight king Naoya Inoue eyes step up after beating Paul Butler
'This is not the goal,' said the 29-year-old Inoue, who is widely expected to bulk up to the super-bantamweight division.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Dec 4, 2022
Japan super-sub Ritsu Doan aims to sink Croatia
The Freiburg winger would become the first Japanese player to score three goals at a single World Cup if he scores on Monday, but his focus is on helping his team reach the quarterfinals.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Nov 28, 2022
Japan captain Maya Yoshida thinks team can still reach knockout stage
Yoshida said Japan struggled to come down from the high of beating Germany in their opening game and found it 'difficult' to prepare for Costa Rica
Top Japan trade negotiator canceled U.S. trip over rice, report says
Ryosei Akazawa
‘Mount Fuji Lawson’ becomes a symbol of Japan’s overtourism problem
A couple poses for a wedding photo in front of a Lawson in the town of Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, on Aug. 25.
Philippine bid to acquire used Japanese warships gains steam
Tokyo is looking to transfer Abukuma-class vessels to the Philippines as part of broader efforts to boost the defense capabilities of like-minded neighbors amid growing Chinese military assertiveness in the region.
Japan to launch broad review of immigration policies amid rise in foreign nationals
Foreign tourists at Narita Airport in June. A report released Friday stresses that Japan is at a turning point and that current ad-hoc measures on immigration are no longer sufficient.
The Nobel Prize and a testy phone call: How the Trump-Modi relationship unraveled
U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi greet one another at the start of a joint news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington in February.
Japan to launch broad review of immigration policies amid rise in foreign nationals
Foreign tourists at Narita Airport in June. A report released Friday stresses that Japan is at a turning point and that current ad-hoc measures on immigration are no longer sufficient.
Sip a bespoke coffee for ¥4,000
At Kuro Mame, baristas customize the coffee according to the guest's preferences.
Japan is warming up to tattoos — just not permanent ones
Tattoos have a complex history in Japan, but new types of temporary ink are letting locals curious about body art experiment without the commitment.
YouTube Music Weekend is where Japan’s internet-born performers go global
Headlining the second day of YouTube Music Weekend is Vocaloid artist Kikuo, who, with 1.46 million YouTube subscribers, is one of the most popular artists in the genre.
Japan looks to build drone ‘shield’ in record defense budget request
A group of Ground Self-Defense Force service members discuss drone operations and capabilities at a joint static display during the Orient Shield 24 opening ceremony at the Yausubetsu Training Area in Hokkaido in July last year.

Podcast

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

Longform

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

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