Breaking News, Business, Financial and Economic News, World News from EconoTimes

Become a contributor

Bookmark Econotimes

Wed, Sep 09, 2026 10:31 AM All times are UTC

Follow Series

©Econometrics LLC . All Rights Reserved.

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

Iraq Seeks 6 Million Bpd OPEC+ Oil Quota

Iraq is pushing for a substantial increase in its OPEC+ oil production quota, seeking to have future output targets calculated using a production capacity of 6 million barrels per day (bpd), according to Bloomberg, citing...

UK Food Inflation Forecast to Hit 6.4% by Mid-2027

UK food price inflation is expected to accelerate over the coming year, potentially reaching 6.4% by mid-2027 as geopolitical tensions, extreme weather and higher production costs pressure the food industry, according to...

Brent Oil Tops $100 as Middle East Conflict Threatens Supply

Brent crude oil prices climbed above $100 a barrel on Wednesday for the first time since July 24 as escalating Middle East conflict intensified fears of further disruptions to global oil supplies. Benchmark Brent crude...

Japanese Yen Nears Seven-Month High as Oil Approaches $100

The Japanese yen held near its strongest level since February on Wednesday, pressuring the U.S. dollar as escalating Middle East tensions pushed oil prices toward $100 a barrel and investors prepared for major central bank...

US Bans Canadian Alcohol, Motorcycles as Trade War Escalates

The United States has announced sweeping import bans on Canadian alcoholic beverages, motorcycles and some dairy products, escalating a trade dispute between the longtime North American allies. The restrictions, announced...

Politics

Israel Orders UK East Jerusalem Consulate Closure

Israel has ordered the United Kingdom to close its consulate in East Jerusalem within 30 days, escalating a diplomatic dispute after Britain, France and Canada announced new sanctions targeting Israeli settlements in the...

Chris Hipkins Targets Cost-of-Living Relief in New Zealand Election

Former New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says Labour was too slow to recognize the cost-of-living pressures facing households after the COVID-19 pandemic, as the party seeks to regain urban and middle-income voters...

Trump’s ‘New America’ Proposal Draws Backlash in New Mexico

President Donald Trumps proposal to rename New Mexico as New America has sparked criticism from residents and political leaders who say the move threatens to erase centuries of history and cultural identity. Trump, a...

US Judge Dismisses Imran Ahmed Deportation Lawsuit

A federal judge in New York has dismissed a lawsuit filed by British anti-disinformation campaigner Imran Ahmed challenging the Trump administrations authority to detain and deport him, potentially clearing the way for...

Iran Strikes U.S.-Used Jordan Base as Gulf War Escalates

Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched ballistic missiles at a military base in Jordan used by U.S. forces and said it attacked 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, marking a sharp escalation...

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

OpenAI Targets Specialized Industries as Enterprise AI Demand Grows

OpenAI is expanding its focus on specialized industries such as chip design, life sciences and financial services while lowering AI model prices to compete with cheaper open-source alternatives, Chief Financial Officer...

Kioxia Rules Out SK Hynix Manufacturing Partnership

Kioxia Holdings CEO Hiroo Ota has ruled out closer manufacturing cooperation with South Korean memory chipmaker SK Hynix, pointing to antitrust concerns and complications involving Kioxias existing production partnership...

Qualcomm Stock Jumps on Amazon AI Chip Deal

Qualcomm Technologies (NASDAQ: QCOM) shares surged 9.5% after the chipmaker announced a multi-generational partnership with Amazon to develop custom silicon and high-speed optical connectivity technology for artificial...

Google Revamps EU Search Results to Meet DMA Rules

Alphabets Google has introduced major changes to its search results in Europe as it seeks to comply with European Union antitrust rules under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Google said Tuesday that the overhaul represents...

Australia Plans New Rules Giving Users Control Over Social Media Feeds

Australia has proposed new social media regulations that would give users greater control over the content appearing in their feeds, expanding the governments efforts to strengthen online safety and regulate major...