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Taku Tamaki

Lecturer in International Relations, Loughborough University

Taku Tamaki is a Lecturer in International Relations, specialising in the international political dynamics of the Asia-Pacific region. After gaining his PhD at Aberystwyth, he was Research Fellow at the Institute of Asian Cultural Studies at International Christian University in Tokyo, and taught International Relations at Plymouth before moving to Loughborough in 2007. He has taught a wide range of courses on international politics and international political economy, including International Relations Theory, the United Nations and International Organisations, The Asia-Pacific in Global Politics, and the International Political Economy of the Asia-Pacific Region.

Having spent four years as a US Treasuries broker at Cantor Fitzgerald (Tokyo office), he brings first-hand experience of political economy to the classroom, having experienced the market turmoil immediately following the announcement of the collapse of Barings Bank in 1995.

Taku is interested in applying the concepts of International Relations and Social Theory to the international political-economic dynamics of the Asia-Pacific region. His main focus is on Japanese foreign policy in East Asia, spanning both Tokyo’s diplomatic- and economic relations with Asia and the US.

His current research investigates the images of Asia in contemporary Japanese foreign- and economic policy pronouncements. Here, he explores how policy elites understand and explain Asia as both a threat and opportunity—an interpretation that transcends both the past and present. He is also looking into Japan’s soft power projection in Western Europe, researching on the way Japanese government perceives its political- and economic activities in the EU and the UK.

He has published in leading journals in international relations and the international politics of the Asia-Pacific, including The Pacific Review, International Relations, and the International Relations of the Asia-Pacific.

Global Geopolitics Series

Caught between Trump and Kim, Japan is nervous and alone

Sep 11, 2017 14:53 pm UTC| Insights & Views

North Koreas nuclear test, by far its largest, came less than a week after it test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile that flew over northern Japan, triggering a national text-message system known as the...

Japan has turned its culture into a powerful political tool

Apr 26, 2017 07:49 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

Much has been made of Japans recent turn away from pacifism and growing military muscle, but Tokyo is also extending its global reach in more subtle ways. Japan is especially serious about increasing its soft power, the...

An ageing emperor steps down – and leaves Japan at an awkward crossroads

Aug 10, 2016 15:42 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics

Emperor Akihitos recent statement to the Japanese nation had been anticipated for some time, but it was nonetheless a startling moment. Akihito refrained from uttering the a-word, but the message was clear: he wants to...

Obama's Hiroshima visit was hugely momentous – and bitterly ironic

May 27, 2016 16:03 pm UTC| Insights & Views

After accepting an invitation from the Japanese government, Barack Obama has become the first sitting president of the US to visit Hiroshima, the site of the first ever atomic bombing. Speaking in front of the Hiroshima...

Economy

Trump Signals Opposition to USMCA Renewal as U.S. Reviews Trade Relations with Canada and Mexico

President Donald Trump indicated that he may not support renewing the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), raising fresh uncertainty about the future of North American trade. Speaking at the White House on...

US Dollar Edges Higher as Inflation Data and Middle East Tensions Shape Market Sentiment

The U.S. dollar posted modest gains on Wednesday as investors weighed mixed signals from inflation data alongside escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the...

Gold Prices Drop as Strong Dollar, Rising U.S.-Iran Tensions Weigh on Market Sentiment

Gold prices fell sharply on Wednesday, declining more than 4% as investors reacted to a stronger U.S. dollar, heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, and changing expectations for Federal Reserve interest...

Oil Prices Surge Above $93 as Trump Escalates Iran Pressure and Strait of Hormuz Tensions Deepen

Global oil prices climbed sharply on Wednesday as U.S. President Donald Trump intensified pressure on Iran, raising concerns over prolonged disruptions in the Middle East and tightening global energy supplies. Brent crude...

Wall Street Slides as U.S.-Iran Tensions Escalate; Tech Stocks Extend Losses in 2026

Wall Street ended sharply lower on Wednesday as growing tensions between the United States and Iran overshadowed inflation data that largely met market expectations. Investors moved away from risk assets amid concerns...

Politics

Venezuela Deploys Troops to Crack Down on Illegal Gold Mining Amid Push for Foreign Investment

Venezuela has launched a military operation targeting illegal armed groups that control major gold mining areas in the countrys south, according to local residents and human rights organizations. The deployment is focused...

Peru Election Results Remain Uncertain as Tight Presidential Race Heads Toward Legal Review

Perus presidential election remains too close to call as vote counting entered its fourth day, with the outcome likely to be determined through a lengthy legal review of disputed ballots. Conservative candidate Keiko...

US Warns of More Strikes on Iran as Trump Pushes for Peace Deal

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has warned that American forces are prepared to carry out President Donald Trumps orders and launch additional strikes against Iran if necessary, signaling a potential escalation in...

US Launches New Strikes on Iran as Middle East Conflict Intensifies in 2026

The United States has launched a new wave of military strikes against Iran, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing Middle East conflict. According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the operation began at 5:15...

Florida Supreme Court Allows GOP Congressional Map to Stand Ahead of 2026 Midterm Elections

The Florida Supreme Court has ruled that a new Republican-backed congressional map will remain in place for the 2026 midterm elections, delivering a significant victory for the GOP as it seeks to maintain its narrow...

Science

Blue Origin New Glenn Explosion Could Delay Launch Operations Until 2028

Blue Origin is facing a significant setback after a dramatic explosion involving its New Glenn rocket severely damaged a launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida. According to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, repairs to the...

Blue Origin New Glenn Rocket Explodes During Launch Pad Test, Delaying Space Ambitions

Blue Origin suffered a major setback after its uncrewed New Glenn rocket exploded during a launch pad test in Florida on Thursday, raising new challenges for Jeff Bezos space company as it competes with Elon Musks SpaceX...

SpaceX Delays Starship V3 Launch Ahead of Potential Record IPO

SpaceX on Thursday postponed the highly anticipated launch of its 12th Starship rocket test from Texas after technical issues interrupted the final countdown. The company now plans to attempt the Starship V3 launch again...

Trump Administration Releases New UFO Files and Apollo Mission Records

The U.S. Defense Department has released dozens of previously classified UFO-related files following an order from President Donald Trump, sparking renewed debate over unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) and government...

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

Technology

Oracle Stock Falls Despite Earnings Beat as Company Plans $40 Billion Financing for FY2027

Oracle Corporation (NYSE: ORCL) delivered stronger-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter 2026 results, surpassing Wall Street estimates on both earnings and revenue. Despite the positive performance and improved annual...

SpaceX IPO Demand Surges Past $250 Billion Ahead of Historic Market Debut

SpaceX, the aerospace company founded by Elon Musk, is attracting unprecedented investor interest ahead of what could become the largest initial public offering (IPO) in history. According to a Reuters report, investor...

Trump Administration Defends Anthropic AI Restrictions in Ongoing Federal Lawsuit

The Trump administration has defended its decision to restrict the use of Anthropics artificial intelligence products, arguing in a new court filing that the federal government acted lawfully after the AI company resisted...

OpenAI Files Confidential IPO Draft as AI Giants Race Toward Public Markets

OpenAI has confidentially submitted a draft S-1 registration statement to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), taking a major step toward a potential initial public offering (IPO). The move positions the...

Apple Unveils Enhanced Apple Intelligence and Next-Generation Siri at WWDC 2026

Apple has introduced the latest version of its Apple Intelligence platform at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2026, signaling a stronger push into the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence market. The...