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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

Houthi Naval Blockade on Saudi Arabia Escalates Iran Conflict, Threatens Global Oil Supply

Yemens Iran-backed Houthi movement announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia on Monday, significantly escalating tensions in the Middle East and raising fresh concerns over global energy supplies, oil prices, and...

ASEAN Ministers Warn Middle East Conflict Threatens Regional Stability and Energy Security

The escalating Middle East conflict dominated discussions at the ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in Manila on Tuesday, as leaders warned that renewed fighting could threaten global energy supplies, fuel inflation, and...

Trump Set to Unveil New Tariffs on Dozens of Countries as Global 10% Duty Nears Expiration

U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to introduce a fresh round of tariffs on dozens of countries as early as this week, according to a report by the Financial Times. The move comes as the administrations temporary 10%...

US-Iran Conflict Escalates as Gulf Attacks Threaten Global Oil Supply

The conflict between the United States and Iran intensified overnight as U.S. forces launched fresh airstrikes across southern Iran following President Donald Trumps vow to retaliate for the deaths of American soldiers....

US Stock Futures Rise as AI Optimism Lifts Tech, 3M Jumps on Strong Earnings

U.S. stock futures moved higher on Tuesday, led by semiconductor and technology stocks, as investors looked ahead to a busy week of corporate earnings that could determine whether the artificial intelligence-driven rally...

Politics

US, China to Hold AI Talks Ahead of Xi’s September Visit

The United States and China are preparing to hold high-level artificial intelligence (AI) talks in September, marking the first official AI dialogue between the two countries under President Donald Trumps administration....

Israeli Airstrike Kills Family of Six in Gaza as Ceasefire Death Toll Mounts

An Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Tuesday killed a family of six after their home was struck and engulfed in flames, according to Palestinian health officials, highlighting the continued violence despite an October...

Trump-Aligned MAGA Inc Builds $400 Million War Chest Ahead of Midterm Elections

MAGA Inc, the super political action committee aligned with U.S. President Donald Trump, has accumulated more than $400 million as Republicans prepare for the November U.S. midterm elections, according to a new filing with...

Japan PM Sanae Takaichi Unveils Growth Plan as BOJ Independence Concerns Lift Bond Yields

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi unveiled her first economic policy blueprint on Tuesday, pledging to increase investment in strategic growth sectors while reaffirming cooperation with the Bank of Japan (BOJ)....

Civil Rights Groups Sue Trump Administration Over Childcare Funding Freeze and Influencer's Role

Civil rights organizations have filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trumps administration, challenging its attempt to restrict billions of dollars in federal childcare and family assistance funding while seeking...

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

Morgan Stanley Downgrades Adobe, Workday as AI Transition Raises Growth Concerns

Morgan Stanley adopted a mixed outlook on the software sector on Tuesday, turning bearish on Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE) and Workday (NASDAQ: WDAY) while maintaining an overall positive view of the industry. The investment bank...

Judge Approves Anthropic’s $1.5 Billion AI Copyright Settlement With Authors

A federal judge in San Francisco has granted final approval to Anthropics landmark $1.5 billion copyright settlement, bringing a major chapter in the legal battle over AI training data and copyrighted books closer to an...

Nvidia Reveals 9.3% Stake in AI Cloud Firm Nebius Following $2 Billion Investment

Nvidia has disclosed that it holds a 9.3% stake in AI cloud infrastructure company Nebius, further strengthening its presence in the rapidly expanding artificial intelligence ecosystem. The disclosure follows Nvidias...

SpaceX Q2 Earnings on Aug. 4 Set Stage for Historic Insider Share Unlock

SpaceX (NASDAQ: SPCX) will report its second-quarter 2026 financial results after the market closes on August 4, marking its first earnings release since its record-breaking initial public offering. The company will also...

Samsung Cuts U.S. Consumer Electronics Jobs as Headquarters Moves to Texas

Samsung Electronics has reduced its workforce in the United States as it relocates the headquarters of its consumer electronics business from New Jersey to Texas, affecting hundreds of employees while maintaining that the...