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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

Kremlin Says New EU Sanctions Won’t Hurt Russian Banks

The Kremlin has dismissed concerns over the European Unions latest sanctions proposal, stating that additional restrictions on Russian banks are unlikely to disrupt the countrys financial sector or reduce bank...

Pakistan Economy Grows 3.7% in FY2026 Amid Strong Fiscal Performance

Pakistans economy is projected to expand by 3.7% in the fiscal year ending June 2026, according to the countrys annual economic survey released on Thursday. The report highlights improving macroeconomic indicators, lower...

European Stocks Rise Ahead of ECB Rate Decision as Investors Buy the Dip

European stocks moved higher on Thursday as investors returned to the market to buy undervalued shares following several weeks of pressure caused by persistent higher-for-longer interest rate expectations. Market...

US Stock Futures Rally as U.S.-Iran Peace Talks Boost Market Sentiment Despite Ongoing Strikes

U.S. stock index futures climbed sharply on Thursday as reports of ongoing peace negotiations between the United States and Iran helped ease investor concerns over escalating Middle East tensions. The positive developments...

ECB Set to Raise Interest Rates as Energy Shock Fuels Eurozone Inflation Concerns

The European Central Bank (ECB) is expected to end its year-long pause on interest rate increases this Thursday, signaling a more hawkish stance as rising energy costs and persistent inflation continue to challenge the...

Politics

Xi’s North Korea Visit Strengthens Ties and Elevates Kim Jong Un’s Global Standing

Chinese President Xi Jinpings recent two-day visit to North Korea marked a significant diplomatic milestone, with both Beijing and Pyongyang portraying the trip as a major success. The visit reinforced the growing...

U.S.-Iran Peace Talks Continue Despite Escalating Military Strikes

The United States and Iran continued negotiations over a potential peace agreement overnight, even as both countries exchanged military strikes for a second consecutive day, according to reports from CNN and Reuters....

FBI Faces Historic Security Challenge Ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup

The FBI is preparing for what Director Kash Patel describes as one of the largest security operations in U.S. history as the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off. With 48 teams, 36 base camps, 11 stadiums, and an estimated 3...

G7 Summit 2026 to Focus on Middle East Conflicts, Ukraine War, and Global Economic Challenges

The upcoming G7 Summit, scheduled for June 1517 in Evian-les-Bains, France, is expected to be dominated by discussions on the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, as leaders seek to maintain unity amid growing geopolitical...

Keiko Fujimori Narrowly Leads Peru Presidential Election as Overseas Votes Shift Race

Keiko Fujimori has regained a razor-thin lead in Perus closely contested presidential election, as overseas ballots pushed the conservative candidate ahead of her leftist rival Roberto Sanchez in one of the tightest races...

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

SK Hynix Stock Rebounds as AI Memory Chip Demand Fuels Expansion Plans

SK Hynix shares recovered from early losses on Thursday after reports revealed the companys ambitious plan to significantly expand its wafer production capacity over the next decade. The South Korean memory chip...

OpenAI May Slash AI Service Prices Amid Growing Rivalry With Anthropic

OpenAI is reportedly considering major price cuts for its artificial intelligence services as competition in the AI industry continues to intensify. According to a Wall Street Journal report citing sources familiar with...

Oracle Stock Falls Despite Earnings Beat as Company Plans $40 Billion Financing for FY2027

Oracle Corporation (NYSE: ORCL) delivered stronger-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter 2026 results, surpassing Wall Street estimates on both earnings and revenue. Despite the positive performance and improved annual...

SpaceX IPO Demand Surges Past $250 Billion Ahead of Historic Market Debut

SpaceX, the aerospace company founded by Elon Musk, is attracting unprecedented investor interest ahead of what could become the largest initial public offering (IPO) in history. According to a Reuters report, investor...

Trump Administration Defends Anthropic AI Restrictions in Ongoing Federal Lawsuit

The Trump administration has defended its decision to restrict the use of Anthropics artificial intelligence products, arguing in a new court filing that the federal government acted lawfully after the AI company resisted...