The Japanese government confirmed the presence of rare earth elements in approximately 50 tons [1] of mud recovered from the deep sea off Minamitorishima.

This discovery is a critical step in Japan's strategy to reduce its reliance on foreign imports. By securing domestic sources of these minerals, the government aims to mitigate the impact of export restrictions from China and ensure a stable supply for high-tech industries.

The analysis of the sediment revealed that yttrium makes up about 30% [1] of the rare earth content, while neodymium accounts for about 20% [1]. While the specific concentrations of these elements within the mud remain undisclosed [1], the presence of these materials confirms the potential of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surrounding the island.

Shoichi Ishii, a program director for the Cabinet Office's Strategic Innovation Promotion (SIP) program, credited the success to new extraction methods. "We were able to establish a world-first continuous ship-board mud lifting technology from the deep sea that suppresses the load on the deep-sea environment," Ishii said.

The testing and analysis were conducted in early February 2026 [2]. The project focuses on developing technologies that allow for the recovery of resources with minimal environmental impact, a priority for the government as it explores the seabed for strategic minerals.

Japan continues to pursue the diversification of its supply chains to protect its semiconductor and electric vehicle sectors. The Minamitorishima site represents one of the most promising areas for deep-sea mining due to the high variety of rare earth elements found in the mud layers.

“Analysis of 50 tons of sediment reveals high concentrations of yttrium and neodymium.”

The identification of significant rare earth deposits within Japan's own EEZ shifts the geopolitical dynamic of mineral procurement. While the lack of published concentration data leaves the commercial viability uncertain, the successful deployment of low-impact lifting technology suggests Japan is moving from theoretical research to practical extraction capabilities to counter China's market dominance.