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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 Holds Near Two-Week High as Fed Rate Hike Bets Rise

The U.S. dollar held close to a two-week high on Monday as investors increased bets on a Federal Reserve interest rate hike following hawkish comments from Chair Kevin Warsh, while renewed tensions in the Gulf boosted...

Asian Currencies Mixed as Yen Nears 160, Oil Surges

Asian currencies traded mixed on Monday as the Japanese yen remained close to the critical 160-per-dollar level, while escalating U.S.-Iran tensions pushed oil prices higher and fueled risk aversion across financial...

Asian Tech Stocks Slide as Fed Rate Hike Bets Rise

Asian technology stocks fell sharply on Monday as hawkish comments from Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh strengthened expectations for a September U.S. interest rate hike, while renewed U.S.-Iran tensions and rising oil...

China Manufacturing PMI Contracts Again as Recovery Remains Fragile

Chinas manufacturing sector remained in contraction territory for a second consecutive month in August, although improving factory orders helped slow the pace of decline. Services activity also weakened, highlighting...

Asian Stocks Fall as Fed Rate Hike Bets and Iran Conflict Rattle Markets

Asian stocks fell broadly on Monday as investors reacted to hawkish comments from Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh and escalating U.S.-Iran tensions, which drove oil prices higher and renewed inflation concerns. The...

Politics

North Korea Vows to Strengthen Nuclear Arsenal Amid U.S. Tensions

North Korea said Monday that it will continue strengthening its nuclear weapons program, arguing that Washingtons hostile policy toward Pyongyang remains unchanged and poses an ongoing threat to the countrys sovereignty...

Flavio Bolsonaro Pledges to Respect Brazil Election Result

Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the leading opposition candidate in the countrys presidential race, has pledged to respect the outcome of the October election and abide by Brazils existing electoral rules. Bolsonaro, a...

Trump Posts AI Video of Iran’s Kharg Island Exploding as Tensions Surge

U.S. President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated video depicting Irans Kharg Island oil hub being destroyed, adding to tensions after Washington and Tehran exchanged attacks for the first time since July. Kharg Island...

Nepal Seeks More China Glacier Data After Deadly Himalayan Flood

Nepal is pushing for stronger disaster data-sharing with China after a catastrophic Himalayan glacier collapse triggered floods and mudslides that killed nearly 800 people across both countries and left more than 3,000...

Iran Targets U.S. Forces in Jordan as Missiles Intercepted

Iran launched missile attacks targeting U.S. forces stationed in Jordan on Sunday, marking a fresh escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran as military exchanges resumed across the region. Fox News reporter...

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

Faraday Future Delivers First Robots in Middle East, Plans September Launches

Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. (NASDAQ: FFAI) has completed its first robotics sale and delivery in the Middle East, marking an early milestone in the electric vehicle and AI technology companys regional...

Pinterest Stock Falls as CFO Julia Brau Donnelly Resigns

Pinterest Inc. (NYSE: PINS) shares fell sharply in after-hours trading on Friday after the social media company announced the resignation of Chief Financial Officer Julia Brau Donnelly, prompting investor attention on the...

PayPal Shares Sink as $50 Billion Takeover Bid Collapses

PayPal Holdings (NASDAQ: PYPL) shares plunged in extended trading after a consortium led by private equity firm Advent International and payments giant Stripe reportedly ended its pursuit of the digital payments company....

Nvidia Pauses AI Cloud Financing Deals Amid Antitrust Concerns

Nvidia has temporarily halted some deals tied to a recently introduced financing program for artificial intelligence cloud companies, amid internal concerns that the arrangement could attract greater antitrust scrutiny,...

Google Changes EU Spam Policy Amid Antitrust Scrutiny

Google has revised its spam policy in Europe after concerns from European Union regulators raised the possibility of a significant antitrust fine for Alphabet, the search giants parent company. The company said Friday that...