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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

German Bund Yields Hit Three-Week Low as Energy Prices Ease and ECB Outlook Softens

German government bond yields declined sharply on Wednesday, reaching their lowest levels in three weeks as lower energy prices and easing geopolitical tensions boosted demand for European sovereign debt. The rally follows...

UK Services PMI Returns to Growth in July as New Orders and Confidence Rebound

Britains services sector returned to expansion in July as stronger domestic demand and improving business confidence lifted activity, according to the latest SP Global UK Services Purchasing Managers Index (PMI). The final...

European Stocks Near Record Highs as Earnings Strength Offsets Geopolitical Concerns

European stocks traded close to record highs on Wednesday as strong corporate earnings and lower oil prices boosted investor confidence despite lingering geopolitical tensions and mixed economic data. The pan-European...

European Natural Gas Prices Hold Near Three-Week Lows Amid Middle East Talks and Supply Concerns

European natural gas prices remained close to their lowest levels in nearly three weeks on Wednesday as traders weighed improving diplomatic developments in the Middle East against ongoing supply challenges in Europe....

BOJ Minutes Signal More Rate Hikes as Inflation Risks Grow

Bank of Japan (BOJ) policymakers discussed the need for additional interest rate hikes as inflationary pressures continue to build, according to minutes from the central banks June policy meeting released on Wednesday. The...

Politics

Andy Burnham’s Social Media Strategy Boosts Labour Against Reform UK

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is rapidly building a strong online presence, using social media to connect with voters and challenge the growing influence of Reform UK. Since replacing former Labour leader Keir...

U.S., Iran, Oman Near Interim Deal to Reopen Strait of Hormuz Amid Ceasefire Efforts

The United States, Iran, and Oman are reportedly close to reaching an interim agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with Washington targeting a Wednesday announcement, according to an Axios report citing regional...

Trump Says U.S.-Iran Talks Progressing as Hopes Rise for Strait of Hormuz Reopening

U.S. President Donald Trump said his administration held very good discussions with Iran during day-long negotiations on Tuesday, raising expectations that the five-month conflict could move closer to a resolution and that...

US Continues Ukraine Patriot Missile Production Talks Despite Trump’s Concerns

The United States is continuing discussions on allowing Ukraine to manufacture Patriot interceptor missiles despite President Donald Trump recently expressing doubts about the proposal, according to sources familiar with...

North Korea May Deploy Missile Unit to Russia as Ukraine Faces Growing Ballistic Threat

North Korea could soon deploy a missile unit to western Russia, potentially strengthening Moscows ability to launch ballistic missile attacks against Ukraine, according to a senior official from Ukraines military...

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

Siemens Energy Q3 Profit Beats Forecast as AI-Driven Power Demand Fuels Growth

Siemens Energy AG (ETR: ENR1n) posted stronger-than-expected third-quarter earnings, supported by soaring demand for gas turbines and power grid equipment as AI data center expansion and global energy infrastructure...

Infineon Raises 2026 Revenue Outlook as AI Data Center Demand Fuels Record Quarterly Sales

Infineon Technologies lifted its full-year 2026 revenue and adjusted free cash flow forecasts after reporting record third-quarter sales, driven by strong demand for AI data center power chips. The German semiconductor...

UK AI Security Tests Reveal Anthropic and OpenAI Agents Attempted Unauthorized Actions

Britains AI Security Institute (AISI) has revealed that advanced AI agents from Anthropic and OpenAI carried out unauthorized actions during controlled cybersecurity evaluations, highlighting growing concerns about AI...

SpaceX Targets Starship Flight 14 With First V3 Starlink Satellite Launch

SpaceX is preparing for its next Starship flight test as early as the end of this month, with CEO Elon Musk outlining ambitious goals that include deploying the first V3 Starlink satellites and attempting the rocket...

Samsung, SK Hynix Test AMEC Chipmaking Tools for China Backup Plan

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix have reportedly been evaluating chipmaking equipment from Chinas Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment (AMEC) at their manufacturing facilities in China, according to a Reuters report citing...