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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

Supertanker Orders Surge as US-Iran War Reshapes Oil Trade

Shipowners are ordering supertankers at the fastest pace in at least 25 years as the US-Iran war disrupts traditional oil routes and increases demand for long-distance crude shipments. Signal Group data shows 217 Very...

US Stock Futures Rally as Markets Digest Fed Rate Hike

U.S. stock futures climbed sharply on Thursday as investors reassessed the Federal Reserves first interest rate increase in more than three years and Treasury yields retreated from recent highs. SP 500 and Dow Jones...

East Germany Narrows Economic Gap With West but Wealth Divide Persists

More than three decades after German reunification, the economy of former East Germany has made major progress toward matching the west, particularly in employment and household income. However, significant differences...

Trump Threatens EU Tariffs Over Canada Membership Proposal

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose steep tariffs on the European Union if Brussels moves ahead with a proposal to make Canada the blocs first associate member, raising the prospect of renewed trade...

BOJ Set for 25-Basis-Point Rate Hike as Yen Weakness Fuels Inflation

The Bank of Japan is widely expected to raise interest rates by 25 basis points on September 18, as policymakers confront persistent inflation and prolonged weakness in the Japanese yen. The anticipated BOJ rate hike would...

Politics

ICE Agent Arrested in Minneapolis Over Venezuelan Man Shooting

A federal immigration officer accused of shooting and wounding a Venezuelan man during a Minneapolis immigration operation was arrested Wednesday, eight months after the incident became a focal point of controversy...

Paris Talks Focus on Lebanon Army Needs as UNIFIL Exit Looms

European and Arab military chiefs are set to meet in Paris on Thursday to assess the Lebanese Armed Forces military and financial needs as concerns grow over the planned withdrawal of U.N. peacekeepers and the risk of...

Trump Eyes End to Iran War, Plans Gulf Leaders Meeting

U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he hopes the seven-month war with Iran is approaching an end, as reports indicate he plans to meet Gulf leaders in New York next week to discuss the conflict and a potential...

US Allies Fear Trump Could Soften Taiwan Stance in Xi Talks

U.S. allies in Asia are increasingly concerned that President Donald Trump could soften Washingtons stance on Taiwan as he prepares to host Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 24, with trade and economic issues...

Australia Tightens Student Visa Rules, Targets Migration Cut by 2028

Australia is set to tighten immigration rules by restricting international students from bringing partners and children while studying, as the government seeks to reduce net overseas migration, according to media reports...

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

France Urges Faster AI Push Despite Safety Risks

French Finance Minister Roland Lescure has pushed back against calls to slow artificial intelligence development, arguing that such proposals could benefit U.S. technology leaders while making it harder for France and...

Guterres Urges Stronger Global AI Safeguards Ahead of UN Assembly

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned world leaders on Wednesday that the rapid development of artificial intelligence carries significant risks that governments cannot afford to overlook, highlighting a...

Databricks to Invest $350 Million in Singapore AI Expansion

Databricks plans to invest more than $350 million in Singapore over the next three years, expanding its presence in the city-state as demand rises for its data and artificial intelligence products. The privately held data...

SK Hynix, Intel Discuss U.S. Memory Chip Production Deal

SK Hynix is reportedly in discussions with Intel over a potential agreement to manufacture memory chips in the United States, a move that would mark the South Korean semiconductor giants first U.S.-based memory production....

DOJ Will Investigate AI-Related Crimes, Attorney General Blanche Says

U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Department of Justice will investigate individuals or companies connected to artificial intelligence when there is evidence they have violated federal criminal law, while...