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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

Dollar Eases as Middle East Conflict, Fed Outlook and Japan Pension Policy Drive FX Markets

The U.S. dollar gave up early gains on Monday as investors weighed escalating conflict in the Middle East against shifting expectations for Federal Reserve policy, while the Japanese yen weakened after a Reuters report...

European Stocks Slip as Middle East Tensions and Hormuz Threat Rattle Markets

European stock markets opened lower on Monday as escalating conflict in the Middle East fueled a broad risk-off sentiment, while Irans announcement that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz heightened fears of global energy...

South Korea’s KOSPI Triggers Trading Curb as AI Chip Stock Selloff Deepens

South Koreas benchmark KOSPI index briefly triggered a trading curb on Monday after tumbling more than 5%, as heavy selling in major technology and semiconductor stocks rattled Asian markets. The sharp decline reflected...

Iraq PM Visits Washington as U.S. Oil, Gas Deals Take Center Stage

Iraqs Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is set to visit Washington on Monday as Baghdad and the United States seek to strengthen their strategic partnership through new energy, trade and investment agreements. The visit is...

Asian Currencies Weaken as Stronger Dollar Weighs, Yen Supported by GPIF Repatriation Hopes

Most Asian currencies traded lower on Monday as a stronger U.S. dollar and rising Treasury yields pressured regional foreign exchange markets, while the Japanese yen drew support from renewed speculation that Japans...

Politics

UK Sanctions 24 Russian-Linked Targets Over Cyberattacks and Election Interference

The United Kingdom on Monday imposed sanctions on 24 individuals and entities linked to Russia over alleged cyberattacks, election interference, and the spread of anti-Ukraine disinformation across Europe. The move marks...

EU to Propose New Rules Limiting Children's Access to Social Media

The European Commission is preparing to introduce new rules aimed at limiting childrens access to social media platforms, with a formal proposal expected after the summer break, European Commission President Ursula von der...

HHS Watchdog Reports $5.56 Billion in Healthcare Fraud Recoveries as Enforcement Actions Decline

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) reported $5.56 billion in expected recoveries and projected savings during the six months from October through March, while excluding...

Western Allies Push for More Air Defenses for Ukraine at Paris Summit

Western leaders are set to seek additional air defense commitments for Ukraine during a high-level meeting in Paris on Monday, as Kyiv faces growing challenges intercepting Russian ballistic missile attacks despite recent...

Zelenskiy Plans Ukraine Government Shake-Up as Prime Minister Svyrydenko Set to Step Down

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced plans to replace Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko after just one year in office, setting the stage for a broader government reshuffle as Kyiv seeks to implement a new...

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

TSMC Q2 Revenue Surges 36% as AI Chip Demand Powers Growth Ahead of Earnings

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), the worlds largest contract chipmaker, posted strong second-quarter revenue growth as robust demand for artificial intelligence (AI) chips continued to drive business across...

Samsung to Launch First Yongin Chip Plant by 2029 as South Korea Speeds Up Semiconductor Hub

Samsung Electronics is set to begin operations at its first semiconductor fabrication plant in the Yongin chip cluster in 2029, marking a faster-than-expected rollout of one of South Koreas most significant chip...

Morgan Stanley Says China’s Reusable Rocket Progress Poses Long-Term Challenge to SpaceX

Morgan Stanley believes Chinas rapidly advancing reusable rocket program represents the biggest long-term competitive threat to SpaceX, following the countrys first successful recovery of an orbital-class rocket booster....

SK Hynix Shares Drop After Strong Nasdaq Debut Despite $26 Billion ADR Listing

SK Hynix shares fell as much as 4.4% in early trading on Monday, even after the South Korean memory chip giant posted a strong debut on the Nasdaq following one of the largest U.S. listings by an Asian technology company....

Apple Sues OpenAI, Former Employees Over Alleged Trade Secret Theft

Apple has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and two former Apple employees, accusing them of misappropriating confidential company information and trade secrets tied to its hardware development efforts. The lawsuit, filed...