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June 30, 2026
 

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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.
Japan's Junya Ito controls the ball during the team's Group F match against Sweden during the FIFA World Cup in Arlington, Texas, on Thursday.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 28, 2026
Former manager Philippe Troussier feels Japan can compete with Brazil
Troussier was hired to prepare Japan for the 2002 World Cup on home soil at a time when the country was a minnow on the international stage.
Japan's Yuto Nagatomo celebrates after Daizen Maeda's goal against Croatia at the 2022 World Cup in Al Wakrah, Qatar, in December 2022.
SOCCER / World cup
May 28, 2026
Fiery Yuto Nagatomo burns with desire to lead Japan to glory at fifth World Cup
Nagatomo has set a new Asian record by being picked for his fifth World Cup, surpassing players such as South Korea’s Hong Myung-bo and Saudi Arabia’s Sami al-Jaber.
Japan coach Eddie Jones will miss the next four games as he serves a suspension stemming from "verbal abuse directed at local officials" during a recent Australia tour.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
May 15, 2026
Suspended Japan manager Eddie Jones no stranger to trouble during polarizing career
The Japan Rugby Football Union suspended its head coach for four games on Wednesday for “verbal abuse directed at local officials” during a recent Australia tour.
Japan's Esam Rahman plays a shot against Vanuatu during their ICC T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific Qualifier cricket match at the Nisshin Cricket Ground at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Aichi Prefecture, on May 9.
MORE SPORTS
May 14, 2026
Japanese fans getting crash course in cricket as Asian Games approach
Korogi Sports Park is part of an ambitious strategy to popularize cricket in baseball-mad Japan.
Naoya Inoue (right) and Junto Nakatani fight during their super bantamweight title bout at Tokyo Dome on Saturday night.
MORE SPORTS / Boxing
May 3, 2026
Naoya Inoue breathes sigh of relief after outlasting Junto Nakatani in superfight
The bout had been billed as one of the biggest in Japanese boxing history, bringing together two unbeaten fighters with identical 32-0 records at Tokyo Dome.
Naoya Inoue (left) fights Junto Nakatani during their super bantamweight title fight at Tokyo Dome on Saturday.
MORE SPORTS / Boxing
May 3, 2026
Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue gets past Junto Nakatani in Tokyo Dome superfight
Inoue retained his undisputed super bantamweight titles and handed Nakatani the first loss of his career.
Junto Nakatani works out during an open training session in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, on April 23.
MORE SPORTS / Boxing
Apr 30, 2026
Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani primed for titanic super bantamweight title clash
Inoue and Nakatani coming into the fight boast identical 32-0 records.
A woman walks past an advertisement for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Nagoya. The Japanese Olympic Committee plans to fight back against online abuse of athletes during the upcoming event.
MORE SPORTS
Apr 9, 2026
You’re being watched: Japan battles online abuse of athletes
Japanese Olympic Committee officials tried to combat online abuse against athletes during the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics and plan to do so again at the Asian Games.
Japan coach Nils Nielsen during his team's Women's Asian Cup semifinal match against South Korea on March 18 in Sydney.
SOCCER
Apr 4, 2026
Culture clash spelt shock end for Japan women’s first foreign coach
Greenlander Nielsen took a rampant Nadeshiko Japan to their third Asian title in four tournaments last month, but was let go shortly after.
Officials from various countries inspect the Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya ahead of next year’s Asian Games, on Sept. 25.
MORE SPORTS / Athletics
Mar 19, 2026
Nagoya Asian Games cruise ship and wooden huts will be ‘unique experience’
About half of the expected 15,000 athletes and officials will live in the eye-catching temporary accommodation during the Games, which will be held in Aichi Prefecture.
Japan coach Nils Nielsen feels Yui Hasegawa, seen during a match against the United States in February 2025, can be the team's key player during the Women's Asian Cup.
SOCCER
Feb 26, 2026
‘Humble’ Nadeshiko Japan ready to win hearts at Women’s Asian Cup
The Women’s Asian Cup kicks off on Sunday in Australia, and Japan is one of the favorites.
Yuzuru Hanyu, seen during the Beijing Games in 2022, is a two-time Olympic champion.
OLYMPICS / Figure skating
Jan 29, 2026
Japan’s rich Olympic figure skating history inspires new generation
Skating is hugely popular in Japan, where children as young as three can be seen taking their first tottering steps onto the ice at rinks nationwide.
Gold medalist Ilia Malinin celebrates after winning the Grand Prix Final in Nagoya on Saturday.
MORE SPORTS / Figure skating
Dec 7, 2025
Olympic favorite Malinin pulls off stunning GP Final win
World champion Alysa Liu made it an American double in Nagoya, coming from behind to win the women’s competition. 
Mone Chiba competes in the Grand Prix Final women's short program in Nagoya on Friday.
MORE SPORTS
Dec 6, 2025
Chiba leads Liu at skating’s Grand Prix Final
Chiba, the only woman to qualify for the final with two grand prix wins, stamped her class on the competition with a score of 77.27 in Nagoya.
Ilia Malinin competes during the 2025 Skate Canada International in Saskatoon, Canada, on Nov. 1.
MORE SPORTS / Figure skating
Dec 2, 2025
‘Quad God’ Malinin ramps up Olympic preparations in Nagoya
The 21-year-old is a two-time world champion and front-runner to claim the title when he makes his Olympic debut in Milan-Cortina in February.
Switzerland's Belinda Bencic kisses the trophy to celebrate winning her Pan Pacific Open final against the Czech Republic's Linda Noskova in Tokyo on Sunday.
TENNIS
Oct 26, 2025
Belinda Bencic surprises herself as Pan Pacific Open win in Tokyo brings 10th title
The Swiss Bencic beat the Czech Republic’s Linda Noskova 6-2, 6-3 in the final, following up her success at the Abu Dhabi Open in February.
Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates with the trophy after winning the final against Taylor Fritz at Ariake Coliseum, Tokyo, on Tuesday.
TENNIS
Sep 30, 2025
Alcaraz beats Fritz in Tokyo for eighth title of season
The Spaniard has struggled with an ankle injury this week in Tokyo but he was still too hot for the rest of the competition to handle, including world number five Fritz.
Carlos Alcaraz hits a shot against Sebastian Baez during their match at the Japan Open on Thursday.
TENNIS
Sep 26, 2025
No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz concerned after injuring ankle during win at Japan Open
The Spaniard had his left ankle heavily strapped during a medical timeout before gingerly returning.
Carlos Alcaraz speaks during a news conference on the sidelines of the Japan Open in Tokyo on Wednesday.
TENNIS
Sep 24, 2025
Alcaraz expects Sinner to come back stronger after U.S. Open loss
Alcaraz is playing at the Japan Open in Tokyo this week, while Sinner will compete at the China Open in Beijing in his first appearance since the U.S. Open.
Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, which is scheduled to open in March next year, will be one of the main venues for the 2026 Asian Games.
MORE SPORTS
Sep 18, 2025
Japan seeks to ramp up Asian Games buzz with one year to go
Host Japan hopes next year’s event will make a splash similar to that of the pandemic-delayed 2023 edition in Hangzhou, China.
Uruguay federation reportedly cancels charter flight after World Cup exit
Uruguay's Jose Maria Gimenez reacts after the team's loss against Spain at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday.
Inside Japan’s rigid adoption system, a British family finds a way
James Benstead, his wife, Jesse, and their three children. Their adopted son is in the rear stroller.
India’s gig workers pay the price for exposure to New Delhi’s hazardous air
Rohit Kushwaha waits for a customer as he delivers his last parcel of the day, in New Delhi in January. His work as a delivery driver has helped pay the family’s bills, but has had a significant impact on his health.
Chinese and Russian bombers and fighter jets stage joint patrol near Japan
A Chinese Air Force H-6 bomber is seen during a joint patrol with Russian military aircraft on Saturday.
U.S. missile moves in Japan send China clear message: A new era has arrived
Soldiers conduct the first Typhon midrange capability live-fire exercise outside of the continental United States, firing an SM-6 missile in July last year in Australia's Northern Territory during Exercise Talisman Sabre.
Japan’s fertility system offers few safe paths for same-sex couples
A Tokyo Pride parade participant holds a sign that says "we want to be a married couple, not a couple."
Inside Japan’s rigid adoption system, a British family finds a way
James Benstead, his wife, Jesse, and their three children. Their adopted son is in the rear stroller.
A French ship with close ties to Japan combines arts and sciences on the high seas
Romain Troublé, the executive director of Tara Ocean Foundation, speaks to visitors aboard the Tara during a rare port call in Tokyo in April.
In Kyushu’s far south, Senti.U sparks a culinary destination
Chef Yasuhiko Uchida was born in Saga Prefecture but has made his home in Kanoya, Kagoshima Prefecture, since 2012.
‘The colors speak for themselves’: How Japan’s chroma bible went global
“A Dictionary of Color Combinations” is meant to function as a quick-reference guide for artists, designers and anyone with a passing interest in aesthetics as a quantifiable pursuit.

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