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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

Uranium Prices Could Top $100 as Nuclear Demand Grows

Uranium prices could rise above $100 per pound within the next three months as expanding nuclear power investment and tighter fuel requirements strengthen demand, according to Citi analysts. Citi maintained its bullish...

OPEC+ Expected to Hold October Oil Output Steady

OPEC+ is expected to keep its oil production policy unchanged for October when members meet on Sunday, as the producer alliance shifts its focus toward establishing new output quotas for 2027. Reuters reported that two...

China Expands Influence in Global Gold Market

China is strengthening its influence over the global gold market as central-bank purchases, household investment, institutional demand and new trading infrastructure reshape the countrys role in the bullion industry,...

Turkey Targets 5% Economic Growth by 2029

Turkey has unveiled its new medium-term economic program, setting ambitious targets for economic growth, inflation, unemployment and the budget deficit through 2029. Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz announced the governments...

Hong Kong Eyes Offshore Yuan Expansion, Deeper China Market Links

Hong Kong is preparing to expand the use of the offshore yuan and strengthen cross-border investment ties with mainland China under its first five-year plan, Bloomberg reported Saturday, citing Chief Executive John Lee....

Politics

Iran Vows Tougher Response as US Sanctions Squeeze Economy

Iran has pledged to intensify efforts to counter the economic impact of U.S. sanctions while warning Washington that any further attacks will trigger a faster and more severe military response. Six months after...

Lavrov Accuses Germany of ‘Declaring War’ on Russia

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Germany of effectively declaring war on Russia amid escalating tensions over Berlins claims that Moscow was behind a drone incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport. Speaking on...

Russia Eyes Putin-Trump-Xi Trilateral Meeting at China APEC Summit

Russia has not ruled out a trilateral meeting involving President Vladimir Putin, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Sunday, according to state news...

Trump Peace Envoys Meet Zelenskiy in Kyiv After Putin Talks

U.S. peace envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv on Sunday as the Trump administration stepped up efforts to negotiate an end to the Russia-Ukraine war. The meeting came...

AfD Eyes Historic Win in Saxony-Anhalt Election

Voters in Germanys eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt are heading to the polls on Sunday in a closely watched election that could deliver a historic victory for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). Led by 35-year-old...

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

SpaceX Turbine Push Unlikely to Threaten Howmet, Bernstein Says

SpaceXs plan to manufacture industrial gas turbine blades and vanes is unlikely to significantly threaten Howmet Aerospace, according to Bernstein analysts, who see recent weakness in Howmet shares as a potential buying...

Anthropic IPO Marketing Expected to Start in Mid-October

Anthropic is expected to begin marketing its initial public offering in mid-October at the earliest, as the artificial intelligence company adjusts the timeline for what could become one of the largest IPOs in history. The...

Japan, US Target AI and Chips in $550 Billion Investment Push

Japan and the United States are advancing a $550 billion investment initiative, with artificial intelligence and semiconductor projects expected to become major priorities in the next phase of the economic partnership,...

South Korea, US Discuss Chip Investments Amid Tariff Plans

South Korea and the United States are holding discussions over semiconductor investments in U.S. manufacturing as the two countries navigate broader economic and trade negotiations, a senior Seoul official said Friday. The...

Anthropic Nears $15 Billion Credit Deal Ahead of IPO

Anthropic is reportedly close to finalizing an expansion of its revolving credit facility to $15 billion, strengthening the artificial intelligence companys financial position ahead of its widely anticipated initial public...

Digital Currency