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Hugo Dobson

Professor of Japan's International Relations, University of Sheffield
Hugo Dobson was awarded his PhD from the School of East Asian Studies at the University of Sheffield in 1998. His thesis explored Japan’s participation in United Nations-sponsored peacekeeping operations.

He has worked as a research fellow in the International Centre for Comparative Law and Politics at the University of Tokyo (1997-1999) and lecturer in the international relations of East Asia in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Kent (1999-2000).

He returned to Sheffield in 2001 as a lecturer in Japan’s international relations, becoming a senior lecturer in 2005 and a professor in 2009. Hugo was Head of the School of East Asian Studies from 2013 to 2019.

His research interests are broadly divided into two strands. The first strand focuses upon Japan's role in international relations, multilateral organisations and global governance, especially the G7 and G20. He has participated in G7 and G20 engagement groups known as the Think 7 and Think 20 that act as an 'ideas bank'.

The second strand of his research explores the role of images in shaping our understanding of international relations and Japan’s role in the world, from postage stamps and logos to TV programmes such as The Simpsons.

He has been the recipient of a number of research grants and has been invited to teach and research at various institutions around the world including the University of Tokyo, Hosei University in Tokyo, Zurich University and Charles University in Prague.

G7 overcomes internal wrangling and ‘irrelevance’ barbs to strike US$50 deal to support Ukraine

Jun 20, 2024 05:36 am UTC| Insights & Views Economy

In the 26 months since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the west has been riven with disagreement about how much and what support it will provide for Volodymyr Zelenskys government. There are two main reasons for...

Shinzo Abe's killing: the history of political violence in Japan

Jul 11, 2022 05:41 am UTC| Politics

Our reaction upon hearing the news of the shooting of former prime minister Shinzo Abe was one of shock and incredulity in equal measure. What followed was a frenzy of trying to piece news reports and gossip together to...

Economy

Dollar Slides as NY Fed Rate Checks Spark Yen Intervention Speculation

The U.S. dollar weakened sharply against the Japanese yen on Friday after the New York Federal Reserve conducted rate checks on the dollar/yen currency pair, according to a source familiar with the matter cited by Reuters....

Yen Surges on Intervention Talk as Oil, Gold Rally Amid Global Market Uncertainty

Japans yen surged sharply against the U.S. dollar on Friday as currency traders assessed the growing likelihood of official intervention to stabilize the weakening currency. The sudden move in the Japanese yen came amid...

Threading Opportunity: How an India–EU FTA Could Reweave Textile Fortunes

After almost 18 years of negotiations, an IndiaEU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) recently reconfirmed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is getting closer. Targeted for early 2026 completion, the deal could...

Yen Stays Under Pressure After BOJ Decision as Dollar Slides on Geopolitical Jitters

The Japanese yen remained rangebound on Friday after the Bank of Japan kept interest rates unchanged, a move widely anticipated by markets, while the U.S. dollar headed for its steepest weekly decline in a year amid...

BOJ Holds Interest Rates Steady, Upgrades Growth and Inflation Outlook for Japan

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) kept interest rates unchanged on Friday, a decision that aligned with market expectations, while delivering a more optimistic outlook for Japans economic growth and inflation. The central bank left...

Politics

Haiti Transitional Council Pushes to Remove Prime Minister Despite U.S. Warnings

Two members of Haitis Transitional Presidential Council said on Friday they intend to move forward with plans to remove Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime, defying strong warnings from the United States that such action...

Iran Warns of All-Out War Response as U.S. Sends Aircraft Carrier to Middle East

Iran has issued a strong warning to the United States, stating that any military attack on its territory would be treated as an all-out war, as tensions escalate ahead of the arrival of a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group...

Russian Drone Attack Hits Kyiv and Kharkiv Amid Ongoing Peace Talks

Russian forces launched a massive drone attack on Ukraine early Saturday, striking multiple districts in the capital Kyiv and causing injuries and damage in Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city. The overnight assault,...

U.S. Vice President JD Vance to Visit Azerbaijan and Armenia Following Historic Peace Deal

U.S. Vice President JD Vance is set to travel to Azerbaijan and Armenia next month, President Donald Trump announced on Friday, marking a significant diplomatic step following a landmark peace agreement between the two...

Pentagon Signals Reduced U.S. Role in Deterring North Korea as South Korea Takes Lead

The Pentagon has outlined a shift in its defense posture on the Korean Peninsula, signaling a more limited U.S. role in deterring North Korea while South Korea assumes primary responsibility. This approach is detailed in...

Science

NASA and SpaceX Target Crew-11 Undocking From ISS Amid Medical Concern

NASA has confirmed that the agency, in coordination with SpaceX, is targeting no earlier than 5 p.m. Eastern Time (2200 GMT) on Wednesday, January 14, for the undocking of the SpaceX Crew-11 mission from the International...

Neuralink Plans High-Volume Brain Implant Production and Fully Automated Surgery by 2026

Elon Musks brain-computer interface company Neuralink is preparing for a major expansion, announcing plans to begin high-volume production of its brain implant devices and transition to a fully automated surgical procedure...

Jared Isaacman Confirmed as NASA Administrator, Becomes 15th Leader of U.S. Space Agency

The U.S. Senate has officially confirmed billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman as the new NASA administrator, making him the 15th leader in the agencys history. The confirmation, which took place on Wednesday, marks...

Senate Sets December 8 Vote on Trump’s NASA Nominee Jared Isaacman

The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee announced it will vote on December 8 on President Donald Trumps renewed nomination of private astronaut and tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman to lead NASA. Isaacman, known for his...

NASA Cuts Boeing Starliner Missions as SpaceX Pulls Ahead

NASA has significantly scaled back Boeings Starliner program after years of technical issues and delays, announcing that the next Starliner mission to the International Space Station (ISS) will fly without astronauts. The...

Technology

U.S. Lawmakers Demand Scrutiny of TikTok-ByteDance Deal Amid National Security Concerns

U.S. lawmakers are calling for closer congressional scrutiny of a new deal involving TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance, raising fresh concerns about national security, data privacy, and potential Chinese...

Ericsson Plans SEK 25 Billion Shareholder Returns as Margins Improve Despite Flat Network Market

Swedens telecom equipment giant Ericsson announced plans to significantly boost shareholder returns after reporting a sharp rise in net cash and continued margin improvements, even as the global mobile network market...

Microsoft Restores Microsoft 365 Services After Widespread Outage

Microsoft confirmed on Friday that it has fully restored access to its Microsoft 365 productivity suite following a widespread service outage that disrupted users across multiple regions, particularly in North America. The...

Tesla Plans FSD Subscription Price Hikes as Autonomous Capabilities Advance

Teslas Full Self-Driving (FSD) software is set to become more expensive over time as its technology improves, according to CEO Elon Musk. The announcement comes as Tesla Inc. continues its transition away from a one-time...

ByteDance Finalizes Majority U.S.-Owned TikTok Joint Venture to Avert American Ban

TikToks Chinese parent company, ByteDance, has finalized a landmark agreement to establish a majority American-owned joint venture aimed at safeguarding U.S. user data and avoiding a nationwide ban on the popular...