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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

Carney and Macron Strengthen Canada-France Defense Ties Amid US Trade Uncertainty

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and French President Emmanuel Macron have agreed to expand defense and industrial cooperation, reinforcing Canadas growing partnership with Europe as trade tensions with the United...

IMF Advances Ukraine Loan Program, Clears $690M Disbursement

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reached a staff-level agreement with Ukraine following the latest review of the countrys $8.1 billion loan program, paving the way for a new disbursement of approximately $690...

Oil Prices Fall as U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Hopes Ease Supply Concerns

Global oil prices dropped sharply on Friday and were set for significant weekly losses as growing optimism surrounding a potential U.S.-Iran peace agreement raised expectations that the Strait of Hormuz could soon reopen,...

US Dollar Heads for Weekly Loss as Iran Peace Deal Hopes Boost Risk Appetite

The U.S. dollar weakened on Friday and remained on track for a weekly decline as growing optimism surrounding a potential peace agreement between the United States and Iran improved global market sentiment and reduced...

Gold Prices Slip Weekly Despite Friday Rebound as U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Hopes Grow

Gold prices edged higher on Friday but remained on course for a weekly loss as investors weighed growing optimism over a potential U.S.-Iran peace agreement against expectations of tighter monetary policy from major...

Politics

JCPOA Nuclear Deal Explained as U.S. Nears Potential New Iran Peace Agreement

The United States has indicated that it is close to reaching a new peace agreement that could end the three-month conflict with Iran, although the details of the proposed deal have not yet been disclosed. As discussions...

KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun Defends Taiwan-China Engagement During U.S. Visit

Taiwans main opposition leader, Kuomintang (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun, said she used her recent visit to the United States to address what she described as widespread misunderstandings about the partys approach to...

North Korea Slams U.S. Missile Sale to South Korea, Warns of Rising Regional Tensions

North Korea has strongly criticized the United States over its recent approval of a major arms sale to South Korea, arguing that the move will further heighten tensions on the Korean Peninsula and undermine regional...

France Hosts Israeli-Palestinian Civil Society Appeal to Revive Two-State Solution Ahead of G7 Summit

Israeli and Palestinian civil society groups have renewed calls for international support for a two-state solution, urging world leaders not to let the ongoing Middle East conflict overshadow efforts toward lasting peace....

US-Iran Peace Deal Nears as Tehran and Pakistan Signal Breakthrough

Hopes for a historic U.S.-Iran peace agreement strengthened on Friday after encouraging statements from Iranian officials and key mediator Pakistan suggested that a final deal could be close. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed...

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 IPO Set for Explosive Debut as Valuation Tops $2.2 Trillion

SpaceX is poised for one of the most historic stock market debuts ever, with shares expected to open nearly 30% above their initial public offering (IPO) price. According to preliminary Nasdaq data, SpaceX stock (NASDAQ:...

Meta AI Strategy Faces Challenges as Zuckerberg Admits Mistakes in Internal Memo

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has acknowledged that the company has made mistakes during its ongoing artificial intelligence (AI) transformation, according to an internal memo obtained by Reuters. In the memo, Zuckerberg...

Hanmi Semicon Shares Surge After $33 Million SpaceX Investment

South Korean semiconductor equipment maker Hanmi Semiconductor (KS:042700) saw its stock price soar on Friday after announcing a strategic investment in SpaceX, the aerospace company led by Elon Musk. The company revealed...

EngineAI Files for Hong Kong IPO Amid Rising Demand for AI and Robotics Stocks

Chinese humanoid robotics startup EngineAI has reportedly confidentially filed for an initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong, seeking to capitalize on growing investor interest in artificial intelligence (AI) and...

Adobe Beats Q2 2026 Estimates, Raises Full-Year Outlook as AI Revenue Surges Despite Stock Drop

Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE) delivered stronger-than-expected fiscal second-quarter 2026 results, surpassing Wall Street forecasts on both revenue and earnings while raising its full-year guidance. The software giant also reported...