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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 Stocks Tumble as Tech Selloff Deepens Ahead of Fed Decision, Big Tech Earnings

Asian stock markets posted steep losses on Wednesday as a sharp technology sector selloff continued for a second day, with South Korea leading regional declines ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserves policy announcement and...

Gold Price Holds Near $4,025 Ahead of Fed Decision as Middle East Tensions Lift Oil

Gold prices traded little changed during Asian trading on Wednesday as investors stayed cautious ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserves closely watched interest rate decision, while renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle...

Hong Kong Home Prices Extend Winning Streak With 13th Straight Monthly Gain in June

Hong Kong home prices continued their upward momentum in June, marking the 13th consecutive month of gains, although the pace of growth slowed as the property market faced fresh economic headwinds. According to data...

Oman Proposes Strait of Hormuz Plan as U.S., Iran Remain Divided Over Shipping Fees

Oman has presented Iran with a Gulf-backed proposal aimed at restoring stability in the Strait of Hormuz, including a system of voluntary contributions from ships using the strategic waterway, according to Reuters citing a...

Chile Central Bank Holds Interest Rate at 4.5% as Inflation and Global Risks Persist

Chiles central bank left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 4.5% on Tuesday, in line with market expectations, as policymakers weighed persistent inflation against slowing domestic economic activity and ongoing...

Politics

California ICE Detention Center Found to Have Inadequate Medical Care, Court Monitor Says

A court-appointed monitor has concluded that Californias largest immigration detention center failed to provide adequate medical care to detainees, finding the facility out of compliance with a previous federal court order...

US Intercepts Iranian Ballistic Missiles as Middle East Tensions Escalate

The U.S. military said it successfully intercepted multiple ballistic missiles launched by Iran toward American forces in the Middle East on Tuesday, describing the attack as an attempted surprise strike amid heightened...

Trump, Zelenskiy Discuss Patriot Missile Production and Ukraine Peace Talks

U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met in Washington on Tuesday to discuss reviving peace negotiations with Russia, expanding Ukraines air defense capabilities, and strengthening...

U.S., Saudi Forces Launch Precision Strikes on Iran-Backed Militants in Iraq

The U.S. military announced Tuesday that American and Saudi Arabian armed forces carried out coordinated precision strikes in Iraq targeting Iran-backed militant groups accused of threatening regional security. According...

Zelenskiy Urges Trump for More Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems to Strengthen Ukraine Defense

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday that he used his visit to Washington to press U.S. President Donald Trump and key U.S. senators for additional anti-ballistic missile systems and interceptors,...

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

X Challenges Australia’s Expanded Social Media Ban Enforcement Powers

Elon Musks social media platform X has criticized Australias proposal to expand the powers of its online safety regulator, arguing the changes could conflict with U.S. law, threaten international legal principles, and...

Meta CEO Zuckerberg Opposes U.S. Ban on Chinese AI Models, Warns Against Overregulation

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has urged the U.S. government not to prohibit advanced Chinese artificial intelligence models, arguing that such restrictions would not help the United States maintain its competitive edge in the...

Trump Administration to Ban Chinese Robots, Power Inverters Over AI Security Concerns

The Trump administration is set to introduce new restrictions on Chinese technology imports, targeting advanced robots and power inverters as part of a broader effort to strengthen U.S. national security and protect the...

TSMC Gradually Restarts Japan Chip Plant After Kumamoto Earthquake

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), the worlds largest contract chipmaker, has started gradually restoring operations at its Japan semiconductor facility after a powerful earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture forced...

SK Hynix Q2 Profit Hits Record as AI Memory Chip Demand Fuels Growth

SK Hynix reported record second-quarter earnings as surging demand for artificial intelligence memory chips and stronger memory pricing drove exceptional growth, reinforcing its position as one of the biggest beneficiaries...