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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

US Stock Futures Rally as US-Iran Peace Deal Boosts Market Sentiment Ahead of Fed Meeting

U.S. stock index futures surged on Sunday evening after the United States and Iran confirmed they had reached a peace agreement aimed at ending hostilities and restoring key shipping routes across the Middle East. The...

Asian Markets Rally as US-Iran Peace Deal Sparks Oil Price Drop and Weakens Dollar

Asian stock markets surged on Monday while the U.S. dollar weakened and oil prices fell sharply after reports confirmed that the United States and Iran had reached a peace agreement. The development boosted investor...

Oil Prices Fall as Iran-U.S. Deal Eases Supply Concerns

Global oil prices declined sharply on Monday after signs of easing tensions between the United States and Iran reduced concerns about potential disruptions to global energy supplies. Brent crude futures dropped $3.51, or...

Trump Announces Iran Deal, Strait of Hormuz Reopening Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that a proposed agreement between the United States and Iran is effectively complete, highlighting plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and remove the U.S. naval blockade on...

Lazard Challenges Centerview for Role in Venezuela’s Massive Debt Restructuring

Investment bank Lazard has reportedly offered a $25 million proposal to replace Centerview Partners as Venezuelas financial adviser in what could become one of the largest sovereign debt restructurings in history,...

Politics

E4 Nations Signal Readiness to Lift Iran Sanctions Following U.S.-Iran Peace Deal

The United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy have expressed their willingness to lift sanctions on Iran if the country takes concrete steps to address concerns surrounding its nuclear program. The announcement came after...

Mitch McConnell Hospitalized After Medical Incident in Washington

U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell was admitted to a hospital on Sunday morning following a medical incident, according to a statement released by his spokesperson. The Kentucky Republican, who has served in the Senate for...

Trump Opposes FISA Renewal Without SAVE Act Voting Requirement

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he would oppose any renewal of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) unless lawmakers include provisions from the SAVE Act, a measure aimed at strengthening voter...

US-Iran Peace Deal Nears as Ceasefire Agreement Set for Switzerland Signing

The United States and Iran have reportedly reached a landmark agreement aimed at ending months of conflict, with an official signing ceremony scheduled for Friday in Switzerland, according to Pakistani Prime Minister...

Switzerland Rejects Population Cap Proposal, Preserving EU Labor Ties

Switzerland has rejected a proposal to cap its population at 10 million people, with voters choosing economic stability and strong relations with the European Union over concerns about rising immigration, housing...

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

UK Banks Report Surge in APP Fraud Losses as Pressure Mounts on Meta and Tech Platforms

Britains banking sector recorded a sharp rise in losses linked to authorized push payment (APP) fraud in 2025, highlighting growing concerns over online scams and increasing calls for stronger accountability from...

SpaceX Stock Gets $175 Target as Analysts See Massive Growth Ahead

SpaceX stock (NASDAQ: SPCX) has received an optimistic initiation from Wolfe Research, which assigned a $175 price target shortly after the company completed what is being described as the largest IPO in history. The...

Anthropic Officials Meet White House Over AI Model Outage

Senior executives and technical leaders from Anthropic are reportedly in Washington, D.C., holding discussions with White House officials in an effort to resolve a dispute that has affected access to the companys most...

SpaceX IPO Sparks Market Optimism as Shares Surge 19% on Trading Debut

SpaceX delivered one of the most significant stock market debuts in recent years, boosting investor confidence and signaling strong demand for high-growth companies despite recent market volatility. The aerospace giant,...

AI Memory Boom Sparks Global Chip Supply Crunch

The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure is creating a structural shortage in the global memory chip market, according to a recent Morgan Stanley report. The investment bank warns that soaring...