Japan has confirmed the presence of multiple rare earth elements, including yttrium, in deep-sea mud recovered from the ocean floor near Minamitorishima [1].
The discovery is a critical step toward diversifying Japan's supply chain for materials essential to high-tech electronics and green energy. The Japanese government currently relies on China for more than 90% [1] of its rare earth elements, creating a significant strategic vulnerability.
The mud was recovered from the seabed at a depth of approximately 6,000 meters [2] on Feb. 1, 2024 [3]. This location is situated off the coast of Minamitorishima, the easternmost point of the Ogasawara Islands, located about 2,000 kilometers [1] from Tokyo.
Shoichi Ishii, a program director for the Cabinet Office, said the initial recovery efforts were a success. He said that even if the domestic supply only accounts for a few percent of total needs, it would represent a major step in diversifying procurement sources [1].
"We were able to achieve an extremely great success," Ishii said [4].
Following these results, the government under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has announced plans to conduct large-scale test mining at the same site in February 2025 [1]. This next phase aims to determine the feasibility of commercial extraction from the deep-sea mud.
The project focuses specifically on medium-to-heavy rare earths, which are often more difficult to source than light rare earths. By securing a domestic source of yttrium and other elements, Japan hopes to mitigate the risks associated with geopolitical tensions and trade restrictions.
“"We were able to achieve an extremely great success,"”
This development signals Japan's shift toward aggressive resource autonomy. By targeting the extreme depths of the Pacific, Tokyo is attempting to break a near-monopoly held by China over the materials required for electric vehicle motors and advanced weaponry. While the technical challenge of mining at 6,000 meters is immense, the strategic necessity of reducing import dependency is driving the government to prioritize these high-risk, high-reward deep-sea explorations.
