Japan Targets Deep-Sea Rare Earth Deposits Near Minamitori Island

The Japanese government confirmed that samples collected by the drilling vessel Chikyu show medium and heavy rare earth elements comprise 54% of the total mineral content. During the February expedition, the team recovered 50 metric tons of mud, identifying strategic materials such as yttrium, gadolinium, and dysprosium—all vital for electric vehicle motors, semiconductors, and aerospace technology. While officials have not yet estimated the total size of the reserves, the mission represents the first successful continuous recovery of such materials from these extreme depths.

To determine if these resources can be tapped for industrial use, Japan will launch a large-scale mining trial in February 2027. The project aims to extract 350 tons of mud daily, with processing to occur on Minamitori Island before shipment to the mainland for refining. Project manager Kazushige Kikuchi noted that a full assessment of commercial viability is expected by March 2028. This move follows a series of tightening export controls from Beijing, which has restricted the flow of critical magnets and heavy rare earths to Japanese firms since early 2025. If the trials prove successful, these deep-sea deposits could fundamentally shift Japan's resource security strategy, offering a domestic alternative to the current reliance on Chinese imports.