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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

Australia GDP Growth Faces Headwinds as Trade Deficit Widens and Imports Surge in Q1 2026

Australias economy is expected to slow in the first quarter of 2026 as a sharp increase in imports and weakening export performance weigh heavily on growth. Fresh data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)...

Asian Stocks Edge Lower as Middle East Tensions and AI Optimism Shape Market Sentiment

Asian stock markets opened cautiously on Tuesday as investors weighed uncertainty surrounding the fragile Middle East ceasefire against renewed enthusiasm for artificial intelligence investments. Market sentiment remained...

South Korea Inflation Surges to Two-Year High, Boosting July Rate Hike Expectations

South Koreas inflation rate accelerated sharply in May, reaching its highest level in more than two years and strengthening expectations that the Bank of Korea (BOK) could raise interest rates as soon as July. According to...

Trump Revises U.S. Tariffs on Copper, Aluminum, and Steel Imports Through 2027

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a new proclamation modifying tariffs on selected imports containing copper, aluminum, and steel, introducing targeted relief measures for key industrial and agricultural sectors while...

Japan Weighs Two-Year Food Tax Cut Starting in 2027 to Ease Cost-of-Living Pressure

Japan is considering a temporary reduction in its food sales tax as part of broader efforts to support households struggling with rising living costs. According to a report by the Mainichi newspaper, the government is...

Politics

France Unbowed Gains Momentum Ahead of 2027 Presidential Election

The recent election of Bassi Konate as mayor of Sarcelles highlights the growing influence of France Unbowed (LFI) as the country moves closer to the 2027 French presidential election. Konate, a 38-year-old politician of...

Russia Launches Deadly Missile and Drone Assault on Kyiv and Dnipro

Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on several Ukrainian cities early Tuesday, killing at least 10 people and injuring around 100 others, according to Ukrainian officials. The strikes hit Kyiv, Dnipro,...

Los Angeles World Cup Security Plans: No ICE Immigration Enforcement at FIFA 2026 Matches, Officials Say

Federal officials have assured Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna that civil immigration enforcement operations will not take place at FIFA World Cup 2026 matches or related events in the Los Angeles area, according to...

Russian Missile and Drone Attack Hits Kyiv, Injures Civilians and Damages Residential Buildings

A large-scale Russian attack struck Kyiv in the early hours of June 2, leaving at least four people injured and causing significant damage to residential buildings across the Ukrainian capital, according to local officials...

Lebanon-Israel Partial Ceasefire Announced as Regional Tensions Remain High in 2026

Lebanon has announced a partial ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel, marking a limited step toward de-escalation in a conflict that has claimed thousands of lives and intensified broader Middle East tensions...

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

HPE Raises 2026 Outlook After Record Q2 Revenue Fueled by AI Server Demand

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE: HPE) delivered record-breaking second-quarter results, driven by surging demand for AI infrastructure, enterprise servers, and networking solutions. The strong performance prompted the...

Alphabet Unveils $80 Billion Capital Raise to Accelerate AI Expansion, Secures $10 Billion Backing from Berkshire Hathaway

Alphabet Inc. has announced an ambitious $80 billion equity fundraising plan aimed at supporting the rapidly growing costs of artificial intelligence infrastructure and expanding its computing capacity. The move highlights...

Anthropic Files for IPO, Signaling a New Era for Public AI Investments in 2026

Anthropic, the public benefit corporation behind the widely used Claude family of artificial intelligence models, has officially taken a significant step toward becoming a publicly traded company. The AI startup announced...

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...