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May 03, 2024
 

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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.
For Andrew MCKIRDY's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Feb 15, 2020
Virtual idols, anime and a rock 'n' roll spirit: Nakamura Shido II leads kabuki's evolution
The audience, most of whom are in their 20s and 30s, wave glow sticks and holler as the lights go down for the start of the show. Above the stage, a frame of blue lights throbs and pulses like a circuit board before the curtain draws back.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Jan 27, 2020
Soccer player Shiho Shimoyamada helps blaze trail for Japan's LGBT athletes
Soccer player Shiho Shimoyamada has been encouraged by the response she has received since she became Japan's first openly gay professional athlete in February last year.
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 Times
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.
Japan Times
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 Times
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.
Japan Times
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.
Weak yen fattens tourist wallets in Japan
People visit the Ameya Yokocho market in Tokyo's Ueno district during the Golden Week holiday on Tuesday.
Biden calls ally Japan ‘xenophobic’ along with rivals China and Russia
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks in Syracuse, New York, on April 25.
Number of vacant homes in Japan hits record high of 9 million
A vacant house in Tokyo is seen demolished in January 2020.
Harajuku strives to reclaim its former glory — and surpass it
Laforet Harajuku, which celebrated its 45th anniversary last year, has been a witness to the district's evolution over the years.
Saudi Arabia steps up Gaza-related arrests as Israel ties edge closer
The arrests for Gaza-related posts indicate Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s regime will take a hard line against citizens not toeing the line when it comes to normalizing ties with Israel.
Kishida sets sights on energy and climate in South America trip
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will use a policy speech in Sao Paulo to set out his vision for ties between Japan and South America, almost 10 years after former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe advocated for stronger ties between the two in the same city.
Yellow sand allergy: A health issue made worse by climate change
A screenshot of the Meteorological Agency's satellite image of clouds and yellow sand (in pink) on Sunday.
Climate change, chalky grains and the risks for Japan’s rice farmers
A farmer plants seedlings in Satsumasendai, Kagoshima Prefecture. Japan’s self sufficiency rate for rice is nearly 100%, compared with 38% for food overall, on a calorie basis.
Japan wants you to spend more with ‘luxury tourism’
Performers play a traditional drum unique to Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, in the prefectural capital of Kanazawa on March 16 to mark the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line to Tsuruga Station in Fukui Prefecture.
Theaster Gates’ ambitious ‘Afro-Mingei’ brings Black Chicago to Tokyo
Theaster Gates' “A Heavenly Chord” lines up church pews before seven speakers and a Hammond B3 organ, a type of electric organ prevalent in Black American churches.

Podcast

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.
[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

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When trying to trace your lineage in Japan, the "koseki" is the most important form of document you'll encounter.
Climbing the branches of a Japanese family tree
By Alex K.T. Martin

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