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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

China's Trade Surplus Shrinks Sharply in March Amid AI Import Surge and Export Slowdown

Chinas trade balance dropped significantly in March, falling well below market expectations as a surge in imports collided with weaker-than-anticipated export growth. Official customs data revealed a trade surplus of...

Australian Business Confidence Crashes Amid Iran War Oil Shock

Australian business confidence suffered one of its steepest monthly declines on record last month, as the ongoing conflict involving Iran triggered a severe global oil shock that rattled markets and spooked company...

RBA's Hauser Flags Uncertainty on Rate Settings Amid Iran War Economic Risks

Australias central bank is treading carefully on monetary policy, with Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Deputy Governor Andrew Hauser admitting he lacks full confidence that current interest rates are calibrated correctly...

U.S.-Iran Tensions Rattle Asian Markets as Oil Surges Past $100

Asian stock markets declined sharply on Monday after weekend diplomatic talks between the United States and Iran collapsed without agreement, prompting Washington to announce plans to blockade the Strait of Hormuz. The...

Dollar Holds Steady Amid U.S.-Iran Tensions and BOJ Rate Hike Uncertainty

The U.S. dollar remained largely flat on Tuesday as currency markets balanced geopolitical risks from escalating U.S.-Iran tensions against hopes for renewed diplomatic progress. The dollar index edged up just 0.04% to...

Politics

NYC Protests Demand End to U.S. Arms Sales to Israel, Dozens Detained

Dozens of demonstrators were arrested in New York City on Monday during widespread protests calling for the United States to halt arms sales to Israel and withdraw its military support for the country. The antiwar...

Trump Nominates Korean-American Michelle Steel as U.S. Ambassador to South Korea

Donald Trump has nominated Michelle Steel, a former Republican congresswoman from California, to serve as the United States ambassador to South Korea a diplomatic post that has remained vacant throughout his second term...

Prince Harry and Meghan Return to Australia for Mental Health and Veterans-Focused Tour

Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have touched down in Australia for a four-day visit centered on mental health awareness, community resilience, and support for military veterans and their families....

North Korea Tests Missiles From New Destroyer Under Kim Jong Un's Watch

North Korea has conducted fresh missile tests from its newest warship, the Choe Hyon destroyer, as part of ongoing operational trials observed by leader Kim Jong Un and top military officials. State media outlet KCNA...

Carney's Liberals Clinch Parliamentary Majority After Ontario and Quebec By-Elections

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has secured a parliamentary majority for his Liberal government following three special by-elections held Monday in Ontario and Quebec, CBC News reported. The milestone victory gives...

Science

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...

NASA Artemis II: First Crewed Moon Mission Since Apollo Takes Four Astronauts on 10-Day Lunar Journey

NASAs Artemis II mission launched Wednesday, marking humanitys return to crewed lunar exploration for the first time since the Apollo era. Carrying four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft, this historic 10-day mission...

NASA's Artemis II Mission: First Crewed Lunar Journey Since Apollo

NASA's Artemis II Crew Arrives in Florida for Historic Moon Mission

The four astronauts chosen for NASAs Artemis II mission have touched down at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking the beginning of final launch preparations for the first crewed lunar journey in over 50 years. NASA...

SpaceX Pivots Toward Moon City as Musk Reframes Long-Term Space Vision

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has revealed a significant shift in the companys near-term space exploration strategy, announcing that SpaceX is now prioritizing the development of a self-growing city on the Moon rather than focusing...

Technology

SK Hynix Shares Hit Record High Amid AI Memory Demand Surge

SK Hynix shares soared to an all-time high on Tuesday, riding a wave of renewed investor confidence in artificial intelligence infrastructure and fresh momentum from developments tied to fellow memory chipmaker SanDisk....

Amazon in Advanced Talks to Acquire Globalstar in Starlink Rivalry Move

Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN) is reportedly in advanced negotiations to acquire satellite operator Globalstar Inc (NASDAQ: GSAT), marking a bold strategic push by the tech giant to challenge SpaceXs dominant Starlink...

Anthropic Discusses Frontier AI Model Mythos With Trump Administration Despite Pentagon Ban

Anthropic is actively engaging with the Trump administration about its latest frontier AI model, Mythos, even as the company navigates an ongoing dispute with the Pentagon, co-founder Jack Clark revealed Monday at the...

AI Deradicalization Tools: How Chatbots Could Help Combat Violent Extremism Online

As artificial intelligence platforms become more deeply embedded in daily life, concerns about their role in enabling dangerous behavior continue to grow. A New Zealand startup is now developing a groundbreaking tool that...

Meta Is Building an AI Version of Mark Zuckerberg to Interact With Employees

Meta Platforms is reportedly developing a photorealistic artificial intelligence version of its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, designed to engage directly with employees on his behalf. According to the Financial Times, which cited...