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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

US Moves to Secure Gulf Shipping Amid Rising Tensions with Iran

The United States has announced plans to assist vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz following escalating tensions linked to the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. President Donald Trump stated that efforts would begin...

Middle East Conflict Impacts Australia and New Zealand Businesses

Companies across Australia and New Zealand are increasingly feeling the economic pressure caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict, particularly the U.S.-Israeli war involving Iran. Rising fuel prices, supply chain...

Global Markets Rise as Oil Prices Stabilize Amid Middle East Tensions

Asian stock markets showed modest gains on Monday as investors reacted cautiously to ongoing developments in the Middle East conflict, while oil prices remained relatively stable. Market sentiment improved slightly due to...

Dollar Holds Firm as Asian Currencies Stabilize Amid Middle East Tensions and Rate Uncertainty

The U.S. dollar remained steady in Asian trading on Monday, while most Asian currencies moved within a narrow range as investors weighed geopolitical risks and uncertainty surrounding U.S. interest rates. Trading activity...

Gold Prices Hold Steady Amid Iran Tensions and Interest Rate Uncertainty

Gold prices remained relatively stable during Asian trading on Monday, as ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and uncertainty surrounding global interest rates continued to influence market sentiment. Despite...

Politics

Oil Prices Hold Above $100 Amid Strait of Hormuz Tensions and U.S.-Iran Uncertainty

Oil prices remained elevated above the $100 mark on Monday despite a slight pullback, as ongoing geopolitical tensions and supply disruptions continued to influence the global energy market. Brent crude futures dipped...

Australia Launches Public Hearings on Bondi Beach Shooting and Rising Antisemitism

Australia has officially opened public hearings into the Bondi Beach mass shooting that occurred in December, marking a significant step in a broader national inquiry into antisemitism and social cohesion. The tragic...

Ukraine Drone Strikes Hit Russian Oil Port Primorsk and Naval Targets

Ukraine has intensified its long-range drone campaign against Russia, targeting key energy infrastructure and military assets in a large-scale overnight assault. Ukrainian forces reportedly struck the Baltic Sea port of...

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te Visits Eswatini Amid Rising China Pressure

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has arrived in Eswatini, marking a significant diplomatic move after his earlier trip was delayed due to restricted airspace access reportedly influenced by China. The visit underscores...

Japan Signals Potential Shift on Arms Exports, Opening Door to Ukraine Support

Japans recent decision to relax its long-standing weapons export restrictions has created a potential pathway for future defense cooperation with Ukraine, according to Kyivs ambassador to Tokyo. While no immediate arms...

Science

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...

NASA's Artemis II Mission: First Crewed Lunar Journey Since Apollo

NASA's Artemis II Crew Arrives in Florida for Historic Moon Mission

The four astronauts chosen for NASAs Artemis II mission have touched down at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking the beginning of final launch preparations for the first crewed lunar journey in over 50 years. NASA...

SpaceX Pivots Toward Moon City as Musk Reframes Long-Term Space Vision

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has revealed a significant shift in the companys near-term space exploration strategy, announcing that SpaceX is now prioritizing the development of a self-growing city on the Moon rather than focusing...

Technology

Anthropic Secures $1.5B AI Venture Backed by Wall Street Giants, Shaking Software Sector

Anthropic has reportedly secured $1.5 billion in funding for a new artificial intelligence joint venture backed by major Wall Street firms, signaling a significant shift in the AI and enterprise software landscape....

Meta Plans $13B AI Data Center Financing in Texas Amid Surging Big Tech Investment

Meta Platforms is reportedly partnering with Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan Chase to secure a massive $13 billion financing package for its planned data center in El Paso, Texas. According to sources cited by Reuters, the...

Anthropic’s $1.5B AI Venture with Wall Street Firms Targets Private Equity Market

Anthropic is reportedly nearing completion of a major $1.5 billion joint venture with leading financial institutions, including Blackstone and Goldman Sachs, aimed at expanding the use of artificial intelligence tools...

Samsung Appoints New TV Business Head Amid Rising Competition from Chinese Rivals

Samsung Electronics, the worlds leading TV manufacturer, has made a significant leadership change in its television division for the first time in over two years. The company announced that Lee Won-jin, formerly head of...

U.S. Cybersecurity Pushes Faster Patch Deadlines Amid Rising AI-Driven Threats

U.S. cybersecurity officials are exploring significantly shorter deadlines for fixing critical vulnerabilities in government IT systems, driven by growing concerns that hackers are leveraging advanced artificial...