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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

ECB Signals Possible Rate Hike as Middle East Tensions Push Euro Zone Inflation Higher

The European Central Bank (ECB) is increasingly likely to raise interest rates in June as escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continue driving energy prices higher across the euro area. ECB policymaker and...

Asian Stocks Rally as Nvidia Earnings Boost Tech Shares, Samsung Jumps on Wage Deal

Asian stock markets surged on Thursday after strong earnings from Nvidia reignited investor confidence in artificial intelligence-related technology stocks. The positive momentum spread across regional markets, while...

Australia Regulator Flags Private Credit Risks Amid Global Market Uncertainty

Australias financial regulator has warned that the countrys growing private credit sector faces increasing risks tied to global market instability, geopolitical tensions, and rapid technological change. The Australian...

Japan Manufacturing Growth Slows in May as Services Sector Stagnates Amid Rising Middle East Supply Costs

Japans manufacturing sector continued to expand in May 2026, although growth slowed slightly as escalating supply-chain pressures tied to the Middle East conflict increased business costs and weighed on overall economic...

Moody’s Downgrades Mexico Credit Rating Amid Rising Debt and Fiscal Pressure

Moodys Ratings downgraded Mexicos long-term local and foreign-currency issuer ratings from Baa2 to Baa3 on Tuesday, while revising the outlook to stable from negative. The agency also cut the ratings for Mexicos senior...

Politics

Trump Warns Iran of Renewed Action as Nuclear Deal Talks Stall

Iran said Thursday it is reviewing Washingtons latest proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict, after U.S. President Donald Trump warned that military action could resume if Tehran fails to reach an agreement. The...

Trump-Taiwan Talks Could Reshape U.S.-China Relations

Taiwan said President Lai Ching-te would welcome direct talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, signaling a potentially historic moment in U.S.-Taiwan relations. If the conversation happens, it would mark the first direct...

Trump Delays Iran Strike as Peace Talks Continue, Markets Watch Strait of Hormuz Closely

Iran said it is reviewing the latest proposal from the United States aimed at ending the ongoing conflict, after U.S. President Donald Trump signaled he may delay military action in favor of reaching a diplomatic...

Raul Castro Indicted by U.S.: Cuba’s Revolutionary Leader Faces Renewed Scrutiny in 2026

Former Cuban President Raul Castro, the longtime revolutionary leader and younger brother of Fidel Castro, has been indicted by the United States over Cubas deadly 1996 shootdown of aircraft operated by the anti-communist...

Trump Warns of Renewed Military Action Against Iran as Peace Talks Stall

U.S. President Donald Trump warned that the United States is prepared to launch additional military strikes against Iran if Tehran fails to agree to a peace deal, raising fears of renewed conflict in the Middle East....

Science

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...

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...

Technology

SoftBank Shares Surge as OpenAI IPO Buzz and SB Energy Filing Boost AI Optimism

SoftBank Group (TYO:9984) shares soared on Thursday as investor confidence returned to the Japanese technology giant, driven by growing excitement around its artificial intelligence investments. The companys stock jumped...

X Corp Loses Legal Battle Over Australia Child Safety Fine

Elon Musks social media company X Corp has officially admitted breaching Australias Online Safety Act after failing to provide required details about its child protection measures, ending a legal dispute that lasted nearly...

Samsung Shares Surge After Strike Deal Eases Labor Tensions

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (KS:005930) shares climbed sharply on Thursday after the company reached a last-minute agreement with a major South Korean labor union, avoiding a potentially disruptive strike. Investor optimism...

Intuit Raises Full-Year Forecast After Strong Q3 Earnings Despite Stock Drop

Intuit (NASDAQ: INTU) delivered stronger-than-expected fiscal third-quarter earnings and raised its full-year guidance, driven by growth in its AI-powered financial platform. Despite the upbeat results, Intuit stock...

Anthropic Revenue Surge Signals Strong AI Market Momentum in 2026

Anthropic is on track to dramatically increase its revenue in 2026, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing figures shared during the companys latest fundraising discussions. The artificial intelligence startup is...