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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

UK House Prices Record First Monthly Decline Since December as Iran Conflict Dampens Market Confidence

Britains housing market experienced its first monthly decline in house prices since December, with values falling by 0.6% in May 2026 as economic uncertainty linked to the Iran conflict weakened buyer demand, according to...

German Retail Sales Decline Less Than Expected in April 2026

Germanys retail sales recorded a smaller-than-expected decline in April 2026, offering a mixed signal about consumer spending in Europes largest economy. According to data released on Monday by the Federal Statistical...

India Manufacturing Growth Accelerates in May Despite Rising Costs

Indias manufacturing sector recorded its strongest growth in three months during May, supported by robust demand and a rise in new orders, according to the latest HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI)...

Asian Currencies Hold Steady as U.S. Dollar Gains on Inflation and Middle East Concerns

Asian currencies traded within narrow ranges on Monday as investors closely monitored ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and rising inflation risks that could keep U.S. interest rates higher for longer. The...

Jerome Powell Warns Against Politicizing the Federal Reserve, Defends Democratic Institutions

Former U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has issued a strong warning about the dangers of political interference in the Federal Reserve, while urging Americans to protect key democratic institutions. Powell made the...

Politics

Colombia Presidential Runoff Set as Abelardo De La Espriella Leads Ivan Cepeda in First Round

Colombia is heading toward a highly anticipated presidential runoff election after right-wing outsider Abelardo De La Espriella secured a narrow lead over leftist candidate Ivan Cepeda in the first round of voting....

US-Iran Tensions Escalate as New Strikes Threaten Ceasefire and Impact Global Oil Markets

The conflict between the United States and Iran intensified over the weekend as both sides exchanged fresh military strikes, raising concerns about the stability of the fragile ceasefire and the broader economic impact of...

Trump Says Iran Wants U.S. Deal as Tensions Continue Amid Ongoing Conflict

U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that Iran is eager to reach an agreement with the United States, expressing confidence that a potential deal would benefit both Washington and its allies despite ongoing military...

US Tightens AI Chip Export Rules, Impacting Nvidia and AMD Sales to Chinese Firms

The U.S. Department of Commerce has introduced new restrictions aimed at closing a potential loophole in the export of advanced artificial intelligence chips to Chinese companies. The move is expected to affect major...

U.S. Launches Strikes on Iranian Drone and Radar Facilities Following MQ-1 Drone Incident

The United States military carried out targeted strikes on Iranian radar installations and drone command-and-control facilities located in Goruk and Qeshm Island over the weekend, according to a statement released by U.S....

Science

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...

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...

Technology

Morgan Stanley Upgrades Winbond and Nanya to Overweight on Strong Memory Chip Market Outlook

Morgan Stanley has upgraded two major Greater China semiconductor stocks, Winbond Electronics Corp. and Nanya Technology Corp., from Equal-weight to Overweight, citing strengthening memory chip prices and expanding growth...

SoftBank Becomes Japan’s Most Valuable Company as AI-Fueled Rally Drives Shares to Record High

SoftBank Group Corp. (TYO: 9984) surged to a record high on Monday, driven by growing investor confidence in the artificial intelligence sector and the companys expanding exposure to AI-related technologies. The Japanese...

Nvidia Unveils RTX Spark AI PC Chips, Expands Challenge to Intel, AMD, and Apple

Nvidia has officially entered the Windows PC processor market with the launch of its new RTX Spark platform, unveiled by CEO Jensen Huang during his keynote presentation at COMPUTEX in Taiwan. The announcement marks a...

LG Electronics Stock Hits Record High on Nvidia AI Partnership Speculation

LG Electronics shares soared to a record high on Monday as investors reacted to growing speculation about a potential expansion of the companys artificial intelligence and robotics partnership with Nvidia. The South Korean...

Nvidia and Microsoft to Launch AI-Powered Windows PCs at Computex 2026

Nvidia and Microsoft are reportedly preparing to introduce a new generation of Windows PCs powered by Nvidia-designed processors, marking a significant step in the evolution of AI-enabled personal computing. According to...