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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

Asian Currencies Steady as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Extension Hopes Weigh on Dollar

Asian currencies traded in a narrow range on Friday while the U.S. dollar remained largely unchanged, as investors assessed reports suggesting the United States and Iran are close to extending their ceasefire agreement....

Asian Stocks Rally as AI Boom and Iran Ceasefire Progress Lift Market Sentiment

Asian stock markets posted strong gains on Friday, supported by a global technology rally and growing optimism surrounding a potential extension of the ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Investor confidence...

Tokyo Inflation Cools in May, Supporting BOJ’s Cautious Rate Hike Path

Tokyo consumer inflation slowed in May, reinforcing expectations that the Bank of Japan (BOJ) will continue taking a measured approach to monetary policy tightening as inflationary pressures remain moderate. According to...

Gold Prices Hold Near Record Levels as Inflation Concerns Offset Middle East Ceasefire Hopes

Gold prices remained largely unchanged during Asian trading on Friday as investors assessed reports suggesting that the United States and Iran could extend their ceasefire agreement. While easing geopolitical tensions...

Oil Prices Set for Sharp Weekly Losses as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Hopes Ease Supply Concerns

Oil prices moved lower during Asian trading on Friday and were on track for significant weekly losses as investors evaluated the possibility of a longer U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement and its potential impact on global oil...

Politics

China Expands Nuclear Defense Network in Remote Desert

China is rapidly strengthening its nuclear defense infrastructure in a remote desert region, according to newly analyzed satellite imagery. The large-scale construction project highlights Beijings efforts to enhance its...

Brazil Struggles to Stop Illegal Amazon Gold Mining as Gold Prices Surge

Brazil continues to face major challenges in its fight against illegal gold mining in the Amazon rainforest, despite increased enforcement efforts under President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. A new study by environmental...

DOJ Investigates Group Linked to Reid Hoffman Over E. Jean Carroll Lawsuit Funding

The U.S. Department of Justice has launched an investigation into a group connected to billionaire entrepreneur Reid Hoffman regarding its partial funding of E. Jean Carrolls lawsuits against President Donald Trump,...

Judge Dismisses Trump Administration Lawsuit Against Boston Sanctuary City Policy

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Trump administration that sought to challenge Bostons sanctuary city policy, marking another legal setback for the administrations efforts to expand federal immigration...

US Imposes Fresh Iran Oil Sanctions Despite Progress on Ceasefire Talks

The United States has announced a new round of sanctions targeting Irans military-linked oil trade, even as Washington and Tehran move closer to extending a ceasefire agreement and restoring shipping access through the...

Science

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...

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

Technology

MongoDB Q1 FY2027 Earnings Beat Expectations, Raises Full-Year Outlook

MongoDB (NASDAQ: MDB) delivered stronger-than-expected first-quarter fiscal 2027 results, fueled by growing demand for its database platform among enterprises and organizations developing artificial intelligence...

SpaceX IPO Could Become Largest in History with $1.8 Trillion Valuation Target

Elon Musks SpaceX is reportedly moving forward with plans for a historic initial public offering (IPO), targeting a valuation of at least $1.8 trillion. According to a Bloomberg News report citing sources familiar with the...

Autodesk Beats Q1 Estimates, Acquires MaintainX for $3.6 Billion

Autodesk (NASDAQ: ADSK) reported stronger-than-expected financial results for its fiscal first quarter and announced a major $3.6 billion acquisition of MaintainX, a move that strengthens its position in AI-powered...

US Quantum Stocks Surge After $2 Billion Government Investment

The U.S. Department of Commerce has sparked major excitement across the technology and financial sectors after announcing plans to invest $2 billion into quantum computing and advanced hardware companies through the CHIPS...

Dell Raises 2027 Revenue Forecast as AI Server Demand Drives Record Quarterly Results

Dell Technologies (NYSE: DELL) delivered stronger-than-expected fiscal Q1 2027 results on Thursday, fueled by surging demand for its AI-optimized servers. Following the earnings report, Dells Class C shares soared nearly...