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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

AI-Driven Memory Chip Prices May Be Skewing U.S. Inflation Data, Fed Minutes Suggest

Minutes from the Federal Reserves April meeting revealed that several policymakers observed rising software-related prices contributing to higher core inflation. However, officials also indicated that these increases may...

Wall Street Faces Inflation Pressure as Strong Earnings Season Nears End

U.S. stocks may encounter increased volatility in the final stretch of a strong corporate earnings season as investors shift attention toward rising inflation, higher Treasury yields, and growing geopolitical tensions....

Wall Street Futures Rally as Oil Prices Drop Amid Optimism Over U.S.-Iran Talks

U.S. stock futures surged Sunday night after easing tensions in the Middle East sparked a sharp decline in oil prices and boosted investor confidence. Market optimism grew following signs of progress in negotiations...

Global Bond Selloff Pressures Stocks as Rising Oil Prices Fuel Inflation Fears

The global bond market has faced intense pressure over the past two weeks as investors reacted to soaring oil prices and growing inflation concerns tied to escalating Middle East tensions. The ongoing disruption around the...

Gold Prices Surge as U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Hopes Boost Market Sentiment

Gold prices climbed sharply during early Asian trading on Monday as renewed optimism surrounding a possible U.S.-Iran peace agreement lifted investor confidence across global markets. The rally in bullion came alongside a...

Politics

Turkey Opposition Crisis Deepens as Police Storm CHP Headquarters

Turkeys political tensions escalated sharply after riot police forced their way into the headquarters of the main opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP) in Ankara, intensifying concerns over the future of Turkish...

Russia Launches Massive Missile and Drone Assault on Kyiv, Killing Civilians and Damaging Historic Sites

Russia carried out one of its largest attacks on Kyiv and nearby regions since the war began, launching hundreds of drones and missiles, including the nuclear-capable Oreshnik hypersonic missile. The overnight assault...

Trump Says Iran Peace Deal Talks Ongoing as U.S. Blockade Remains in Place

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Washington is in no rush to finalize a peace agreement with Iran, stressing that the current naval blockade against the country will remain active until a formal deal is...

Trump’s White House Ballroom Push Draws Criticism Amid Rising Gas Prices

U.S. President Donald Trump is facing growing criticism after repeatedly promoting the construction of a new White House ballroom while many Americans struggle with high gas prices and economic uncertainty. During a visit...

Israeli Airstrike in Gaza Refugee Camp Kills Infant and Parents Amid Fragile Ceasefire

An Israeli airstrike on a residential apartment in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza killed three Palestinians on Sunday, including a six-month-old baby, according to local health officials. The victims were...

Science

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

NASA's Artemis II Crew Arrives in Florida for Historic Moon Mission

The four astronauts chosen for NASAs Artemis II mission have touched down at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking the beginning of final launch preparations for the first crewed lunar journey in over 50 years. NASA...

Technology

Meta AI Push Could Add $26 Billion in Revenue by 2027, Wolfe Research Says

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) is projected to generate more than $26 billion in additional revenue by 2027 through artificial intelligence products, subscription services, and new advertising tools, according to a recent...

SpaceX Starship V3 Test Flight Boosts IPO Momentum Ahead of Historic Market Debut

SpaceX successfully completed a major test flight of its upgraded Starship V3 rocket, marking a significant achievement for Elon Musks aerospace company as it moves closer to a highly anticipated initial public offering....

PDG Explores $1 Billion Sale of China Data Center Assets

Princeton Digital Group (PDG), a major data center operator backed by private equity firm Warburg Pincus, has reportedly launched a sale process for its China-based assets that could be valued at as much as $1 billion,...

Lam Research Expands AI-Powered Semiconductor Tools and Arizona Operations

Lam Research is accelerating its investment in artificial intelligence and advanced sensing technology to improve semiconductor manufacturing efficiency while expanding its presence in Arizona and California. The...

Texas Sues Meta Over WhatsApp Encryption Claims

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against Meta Platforms and its messaging service WhatsApp, accusing the companies of misleading consumers about WhatsApps encryption and privacy protections. The...