Culture Oct 24, 2021
Gawky teen star wins new fans for shogi, Japan's 'game of generals'
Sota Fujii's incredible success and quirky charm have made him a household name in Japan.
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:
Summer Olympics / Karate Aug 3, 2021
Karate hopes to land killer Tokyo blow before Olympic knockout
The sport is one of four making their debut at the Games, but it has already been dropped for Paris 2024.
Summer Olympics Jul 13, 2021
Gymnastics star Kohei Uchimura bringing laserlike focus to final Olympics
The 32-year-old etched his name into Olympic history at the Rio Games in 2016, becoming the first male gymnast in 44 years to retain his all-around title.
Judo Jul 6, 2021
Judo legend Tadahiro Nomura hopes 'king' Teddy Riner can match Olympic hat trick
The retired Japanese judoka said he would love to see Riner match his own triple tally at Tokyo's historic Nippon Budokan arena.
Summer Olympics / Shooting May 25, 2021
Japan's strict gun laws trigger problems for Olympic shooting
National Rifle Association of Japan president Kiichiro Matsumaru said Japan's laws make it difficult for the nation to host international shooting events.
J. League Feb 23, 2021
Golden oldie 'King Kazu' Miura leads Japanese soccer's veterans
Nine players over the age of 40, including ageless Miura and other former national team stars, will be plying their trade for J. League clubs this season.
Olympics Jan 20, 2021
'Unwavering' Tokyo 2020 CEO says fans at Olympics not guaranteed
In an interview marking the six-month countdown to the Summer Games, Toshiro Muto did not rule out the possibility that events will take place behind closed doors amid the ongoing pandemic.
Art Nov 14, 2020
Art or vandalism? Japan tries to find the right balance with street graffiti.
Tokyo looks to find the right balance between encouraging creative expression and protecting buildings from vandalism.
Food & Drink Oct 17, 2020
With fortunes waning in Japan, sake finds a new home abroad
As the world’s hunger for Japanese cuisine grows, so does its thirst for the country’s iconic drink.
Music Oct 10, 2020
Facing the music: Can Japan’s vibrant record culture survive the COVID-19 pandemic?
An iconic Tokyo record store prepares to close, leaving vinyl fans fearing for the future.