Andrew MCKIRDY - The Japan Times

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.

SOCCER / J. League

Nov 8, 2012

Gamba still in danger of relegation despite draw with Reysol

Former J. League champions Gamba Osaka remained deep in relegation trouble despite salvaging a late 2-2 draw with Kashiwa Reysol on Wednesday, while Sanfrecce Hiroshima edged closer to their first-ever title after opening up a two-point gap at the top of the table with three games left to play.

SOCCER / J. League

Nov 4, 2012

Shibasaki scores twice as Antlers beat S-Pulse in Nabisco Cup final

Gaku Shibasaki struck twice to help defending champions Kashima Antlers capture the Nabisco Cup for a record fifth time with a 2-1 extra-time victory over Shimizu S-Pulse on Saturday afternoon.

SOCCER / J. League

Oct 28, 2012

Reds blow chance to close gap on leaders

Urawa Reds let a precious chance to make up ground in the J.League title race slip through their fingers after a frustrating 0-0 draw with Cerezo Osaka on Saturday.

SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK

Oct 25, 2012

Relegation fears cast long shadow over struggling sides

Another weekend of mixed results has left this year's J. League championship race as opaque as ever, but after further movement at the bottom of the table, the relegation battle is looking even harder to call.

SOCCER / J. League

Oct 21, 2012

Gamba improve survival chances

Gamba Osaka took decisive action in their bid to avoid J.League first-division relegation with a 3-2 win over Kawasaki Frontale on Saturday.

SOCCER / J. League

Oct 20, 2012

Experiences put game in perspective for Umesaki

Urawa Reds will be disappointed if their pursuit of this season's J. League title comes to nothing, but attacking midfielder Tsukasa Umesaki has survived enough setbacks in his career to know that the bad times can be just as important as the good.

SOCCER / J. League

Oct 14, 2012

Efficient Antlers advance to Nabisco Cup final

Defending champions Kashima Antlers earned a shot at a record fifth Nabisco Cup title after claiming a 5-4 aggregate semifinal win over Kashiwa Reysol with a 2-2 second-leg draw on Saturday.

Japan Times

SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE

Oct 11, 2012

Prestige friendlies provide perfect chance to lay down marker

International friendlies are often looked upon as little more than an irritation in the crowded calender of the modern game, but as Japan prepares to take on France and Brazil over the coming week, national team manager Alberto Zaccheroni is unlikely to concur.

SOCCER / J. League

Oct 7, 2012

Sanfrecce let off hook after Ono misfires late

Sanfrecce Hiroshima escaped with minimal damage to their J.League title ambitions after Yokohama F. Marinos missed a second-half penalty in a 0-0 draw with the division leaders on Saturday.

SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK

Oct 4, 2012

Title-chasing pack slims down after weekend purge

There is still much to sort out before the identity of the 2012 J. League champion becomes known, but for perhaps the first time in a season that has consistently refused to produce a clear front-runner, a definitive shape is beginning to crystallize at the top of the table.

SOCCER / J. League

Sep 30, 2012

Jubilo Iwata blow lead, fall to FC Tokyo

FC Tokyo trampled Jubilo Iwata's J.League title ambitions into the dirt after coming from behind to beat the three-time champions 2-1 on Saturday.

SOCCER / J. League

Sep 29, 2012

Olympic experience had profound impact on Omiya's Higashi

Escaping relegation would be the only thing on the mind of most teams sitting one place above the drop zone with just eight matches left to play, but Omiya Ardija midfielder Keigo Higashi has grander ambitions for his struggling side than mere survival.

SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK

Sep 20, 2012

Urawa eyeing immediate reward for improved season

Urawa Reds would have settled for a step in the right direction after escaping relegation by the skin of their teeth last season, but with a first J. League title since 2006 in sight with only nine games left to play, hopes of an unlikely triumph are gathering steam.

SOCCER / J. League

Sep 16, 2012

Reds rally for victory against Marinos

Urawa Reds came from behind to ramp up the pressure in the J.League title race with a 2-1 win over Yokohama F. Marinos on Saturday.

Japan Times

SOCCER / World cup

Sep 13, 2012

Zaccheroni keeps focus as Japan eyes early berth

National team manager Alberto Zaccheroni insists he will not be tempted to experiment with his starting lineup over the remainder of Japan's World Cup qualifying program despite all but locking up a place in Brazil with a 1-0 win over Iraq on Tuesday.

SOCCER / World cup

Sep 12, 2012

Maeda header carries Japan past Iraq

Japan shook off the late withdrawal of injured Manchester United star Shinji Kagawa to beat Iraq 1-0 and move to the brink of qualification for the 2014 World Cup on Tuesday.

Japan Times

SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE

Sep 6, 2012

Japan looking to maintain high standards as Brazil beckons

Japan can take a giant step toward a fifth consecutive World Cup appearance by beating Iraq in next Tuesday's Brazil 2014 qualifier in Saitama, and if Alberto Zaccheroni's side can come anywhere close to matching its recent performances, the visitors will be in for a rough evening.

Japan Times

SOCCER / World cup

Sep 5, 2012

Young Nadeshiko stumbles in U-20 Women's World Cup semifinals

Two-time champion Germany ended Japan's bid to reach the Under-20 Women's World Cup final for the first time with a 3-0 win in Tuesday's semifinal.

SOCCER / J. League

Sep 2, 2012

Ardija rally for draw in Saitama derby

Omiya Ardija fought back from a goal down and an early red card to claim an unlikely share of the Saitama derby spoils with a 1-1 draw against Urawa Reds on Saturday night.

SOCCER / J. League

Sep 1, 2012

Yokohama defender Kurihara has big ambitions with club and country

Yuzo Kurihara may be suspended for Japan's World Cup qualifier against Iraq this month, but if the Yokohama F. Marinos defender cannot be with his teammates in body, he fully intends to be there in spirit.

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

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

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

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Foreign wrestlers have a long history in sumo

Foreign wrestlers have a long history in sumo

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