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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

World Bank Approves $1.1 Billion Emergency Funding for Bangladesh Amid Food and Energy Price Pressures

The World Bank has approved $1.1 billion in emergency financing for Bangladesh to help the country cope with the economic impact of rising food, fuel, and fertilizer prices driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle...

Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Countries Imposing Digital Services Taxes on U.S. Tech Firms

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday that the United States will impose a 100% tariff on imports from any country that enforces digital services taxes (DSTs) on American technology companies, significantly...

US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data as Fed Rate Hike Expectations Stay Elevated

The U.S. dollar edged lower on Friday, extending its decline for a second consecutive session after a six-day winning streak pushed the greenback to its strongest level since May 2025. Despite the modest pullback, the...

Gold Price Ends Lower for Fourth Week Despite Rebound as Fed Rate Hike Bets Strengthen

Gold prices rebounded more than 1% on Friday but still finished the week in negative territory, as renewed expectations of Federal Reserve interest rate hikes and a stronger U.S. dollar continued to pressure the precious...

Wall Street Ends Lower as AI Stocks Drag Markets, Fed Rate Outlook Shifts

Wall Street closed slightly lower on Friday, capping a difficult week for U.S. equities as technology stocks led the decline. With geopolitical tensions easing following diplomatic progress in the Middle East and oil...

Politics

Ukraine Strikes Russian Titan-Barrikady Plant With Long-Range FP-5 Flamingo Missile

Ukraine said it carried out a long-range missile strike on a major Russian military production facility in the Volgograd region overnight, marking another escalation in Kyivs campaign to target defense infrastructure deep...

Javier Milei Cabinet Chief Manuel Adorni Resigns Amid Spending Scandal Investigation

Argentine President Javier Milei has suffered a political setback after Cabinet Chief Manuel Adorni resigned following mounting scrutiny over his finances and personal spending, triggering fresh pressure on the government...

Australia Plans Higher Fines for Social Media Firms Failing to Block Underage Users

Australia is moving to strengthen its landmark online safety law by proposing significantly tougher penalties for social media companies that fail to prevent children under 16 from accessing their platforms. The planned...

US Strikes Iran Again After Strait of Hormuz Tanker Attack Escalates Ceasefire Tensions

The United States launched fresh military strikes against Iran after a Panama-flagged oil tanker was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, marking the most serious escalation since Washington and Tehran signed an interim peace...

Maria Corina Machado’s Return to Venezuela Faces U.S. Hesitation After Deadly Earthquakes

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machados renewed appeal for U.S. assistance to return to Venezuela following the countrys devastating earthquakes has reportedly caused frustration among senior officials in...

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

Italy Investigates Microsoft Over Microsoft 365 AI Subscription Price Hike

Italys antitrust authority has launched an investigation into Microsoft over allegations of unfair commercial practices tied to the pricing changes for its Microsoft 365 subscription service. The probe focuses on whether...

US Seizes Nearly 400 Illegal World Cup Streaming Domains in Global Anti-Piracy Crackdown

U.S. authorities have seized nearly 400 internet domains that were allegedly used to illegally stream FIFA World Cup matches, marking one of the largest anti-piracy enforcement actions tied to the global soccer tournament....

SpaceX, Charter Communications Explore Mobile Partnership to Expand Starlink Wireless Service

SpaceX and Charter Communications are reportedly in executive-level discussions about forming a strategic partnership that could accelerate the expansion of consumer mobile services across the United States. According to a...

OpenAI IPO Delay Weighs on SoftBank Shares as AI Valuation Concerns Grow

SoftBank Group (TYO:9984) shares tumbled sharply on Friday after a report suggested that OpenAI is considering postponing its highly anticipated initial public offering (IPO), delaying what many investors had expected to...

Apple Supplier Stocks Slide as Samsung, SK Hynix Lead Selloff After Apple Price Hikes

Apples major Asian suppliers came under heavy selling pressure on Friday after the iPhone maker announced significant price increases for its MacBook and iPad lineup, fueling concerns that rising semiconductor costs are...