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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

ECB Keeps July Rate Options Open Amid Iran War Energy Price Risks

The European Central Bank (ECB) will keep all policy options on the table ahead of its July meeting and stands ready to take further action if rising energy costs linked to the Iran conflict fuel broader inflationary...

Asian Currencies Mixed as Dollar Slips on Iran Peace Hopes and Fed Rate Outlook

Asian currencies traded mixed on Friday while the U.S. dollar weakened slightly, as investors assessed growing optimism over a potential U.S.-Iran peace agreement and the latest signals on Federal Reserve interest rate...

Asian Stocks Rally as Trump Signals Iran Peace Deal; Tech and Chip Shares Rebound Strongly

Asian stock markets surged on Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that a peace agreement with Iran could be finalized soon, boosting investor confidence and driving a broad rally across regional equities....

Japan Core Inflation Seen Steady in May Ahead of BOJ Rate Hike

Japans core inflation rate likely remained unchanged in May, signaling that price pressures are still below the Bank of Japans (BOJ) 2% target despite rising energy costs and expectations of further monetary tightening....

Gold Prices Slide Toward Second Weekly Loss as Fed Rate Hike Expectations Weigh on Market

Gold prices declined on Friday, marking their second straight weekly loss as investors reacted to persistent U.S. inflation concerns and growing expectations that the Federal Reserve could raise interest rates later this...

Politics

South Korea Ballot Shortage Sparks Protests, Election Fraud Claims, and Calls for Rerun

A ballot paper shortage during South Koreas recent local elections has triggered widespread protests, intensified political tensions, and raised concerns about public confidence in the countrys democratic process. Many...

US Plans NATO Force Reduction in Europe Amid Defense Burden Dispute

The United States is reportedly preparing to reduce the number of aircraft, warships, and other military assets available for NATO operations in Europe, a move that could significantly impact the alliances defense...

Trump Signals Possible Iran Peace Deal as Markets Rally

Hopes for a breakthrough in U.S.-Iran relations rose on Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that a peace agreement with Iran could be finalized as early as this weekend. If completed, the deal would mark a...

France Hosts Israeli-Palestinian Peace Conference to Revive Two-State Solution

French officials, Israeli and Palestinian civil society leaders, and representatives from dozens of countries gathered in France on Friday to reaffirm support for a two-state solution and prevent the issue from fading amid...

DOJ Sues Virginia Over Law Enforcement Mask Ban

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against the state of Virginia, challenging a recently enacted law that restricts law enforcement officers from wearing face coverings while carrying out official...

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

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...

SpaceX IPO Sets Record With $75 Billion Raise, Valuation Hits $1.77 Trillion

SpaceX has officially made history after pricing its highly anticipated initial public offering (IPO) at $135 per share, raising an unprecedented $75 billion and becoming the largest IPO ever completed in the United...

Astera Labs and Rocket Lab Surge After Nasdaq-100 Inclusion Announcement

Shares of Astera Labs (NASDAQ: ALAB) and Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) climbed sharply in after-hours trading on Thursday after Nasdaq confirmed both companies will be added to the prestigious Nasdaq-100 Index during its June...