Beyond Minamitorishima: Japan's Mountain Rare Earths — The Discovery of Takanawaite and Challenges to Resource Development
Introduction: Can Japan Really Become a "Resource Power"?
"Japan is finally becoming a resource power!" — In January 2026, news of the test drilling for "rare earth mud" off Minamitorishima Island spread across Japan. Amid growing concerns about China's export restrictions, expectations for domestic resources have reached their peak.
However, it's not just the seabed that holds potential for rare earths. Did you know that fragments of this dream have been quietly resting in Japan's mountains as well?
"Takanawaite" — A New Mineral Discovered in Mt. Takanawa, Ehime Prefecture
An Accidental Discovery Triggered by an Earthquake
The setting is Mt. Takanawa, standing 986 meters tall in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture. In 2001, during the Geiyo Earthquake, a small mineral was collected from granite along a collapsed forest road. Initially identified as fergusonite, this mineral was re-examined following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, revealing it to be a completely new mineral. In March 2012, it was officially recognized by the International Mineralogical Association and named "Takanawaite" after the mountain.
The discovery was made by a research team led by Professor Tetsuo Minakawa (at the time) of Ehime University.
Characteristics of Takanawaite
Takanawaite is composed of the following rare elements:
- Yttrium (a rare earth element): Used in LEDs, phosphors, and superconductors
- Tantalum (a rare metal): Essential for mobile phone capacitors and nuclear reactor control rods
- Niobium (a rare metal): Primarily used as a steel additive
The crystal appears as brown plate-like or radiating formations, ranging from a few millimeters to one centimeter in size. Minerals containing such high concentrations of these rare metals are extremely uncommon, making this a scientifically valuable discovery.
The Reality: Not a Ticket to "Resource Superpower" Status
Professor Minakawa's Candid Assessment
However, this discovery doesn't immediately solve Japan's resource problems. Professor Minakawa offered a wry smile during an interview and said:
"It would be mined out in two or three days. That's the quantity we're talking about."
While rare earths are indeed present, whether there's enough for commercial viability is an entirely different matter. Takanawaite serves merely as an "indicator" of geological environments where rare metals concentrate.
The "Three High Walls" Blocking Resource Development
Dr. Yohei Shirase, an assistant professor specializing in mineralogy at Ehime University's Graduate School of Science and Engineering, maintains a level-headed perspective. He points out three major barriers to domestic resource development:
1. Mining Volume Issues The rare earth content in Japanese granite is low, and no commercially viable deposits have been found.
2. Stable Supply Challenges Even if deposits were discovered, establishing continuous mining operations and stable supply systems would be necessary.
3. Radioactive Material Processing Most rare earth ores contain radioactive substances like thorium and uranium. Mining and refining generate large amounts of radioactive waste, requiring massive costs and strict management.
Dr. Shirase states, "Without technological innovation, mining on a scale viable for commercialization is unlikely."
Global Rare Earth Situation and China Dependency
China's Grip on the "Industrial Vitamin"
Rare earths comprise 17 elements including neodymium and dysprosium — materials essential for electric vehicle (EV) motors, smartphones, and wind turbine generators. They're often called the "industrial vitamin."
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), China accounted for approximately 69% of global rare earth production in 2024. In the refining stage, China commands an overwhelming 92% market share, leaving the world's high-tech industries dependent on China.
Lessons from the 2010 "Rare Earth Shock"
In 2010, following a fishing boat collision incident near the Senkaku Islands, China effectively restricted rare earth exports to Japan. Japanese manufacturing suffered significant damage. This experience prompted Japan to diversify procurement sources, develop recycling technologies, and strengthen national stockpiles. As a result, China dependency reportedly dropped from 90% to approximately 60%.
However, heavy rare earths used in EV motors (dysprosium, terbium, etc.) still depend almost 100% on China.
Export Restrictions Intensifying Since 2025
In April 2025, China strengthened export restrictions on seven types of rare earths as a countermeasure against trade friction with the United States. The impact extended to Japan, forcing some automakers to halt production. In January 2026, China also announced enhanced export controls on dual-use products for Japan, raising concerns about effects on rare earth-related products.
The Minamitorishima "Rare Earth Mud" Development Project
A World-First Deep-Sea Mining Challenge
Amid these circumstances, the "rare earth mud" development off Minamitorishima Island has attracted significant attention. In 2013, a research team from the University of Tokyo's Kato-Nakamura-Yasukawa Laboratory discovered that rare earth mud with high concentrations exists at approximately 6,000 meters depth within Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around Minamitorishima.
The estimated reserves are 16 million tons. The contained rare earths are "ultra-high concentration rare earth mud" with 20 times the grade of Chinese land-based mines, reportedly equivalent to decades or even centuries of Japan's annual demand.
January 2026: Test Drilling Begins
Under the Cabinet Office's Strategic Innovation Creation Program (SIP), the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC)'s deep-sea drilling vessel "Chikyu" departed from Shimizu Port on January 12, 2026. The world's first test to extract rare earth mud from approximately 6,000 meters below sea level has begun.
The mining system uses a "closed-loop circulation method," an environmentally conscious technology that suppresses the dispersion of suspended matter into the ocean during extraction. If all goes well, full-scale mining tests will be conducted in February 2027, aiming for commercial extraction around 2030.
Major Advantages of Seabed Resources
The rare earth mud off Minamitorishima has significant advantages not found in land-based mines:
- Almost no radioactive substances: Rare earths concentrated in seawater are "clean resources" with minimal concern for radioactive waste
- Simplified refining process: Low levels of harmful substances enable environmentally friendly refining
- High heavy rare earth content: Particularly valuable dysprosium and terbium are abundant
Challenges to Commercialization
Cost and Profitability
Nevertheless, the path to commercialization is far from smooth. Mining at 6,000-meter depths is unprecedented, with annual operating costs for the drilling vessel "Chikyu" exceeding 10 billion yen (approximately $65 million), or tens of millions of yen per day.
Japan's annual rare earth demand is approximately 18,000 tons. Meeting this would require extracting several million tons of mud annually, and the prospect of competing with Chinese prices remains low at present.
Geopolitical Risks
The waters around Minamitorishima are located in the western Pacific, where U.S.-China tensions are intensifying, and Chinese naval activity has become more frequent. In June 2025, the aircraft carrier "Liaoning" was confirmed to have temporarily entered Minamitorishima's EEZ, possibly with the intent of checking exploration activities.
What "Mountains" and "Seas" Tell Us About Japan's Options
What Takanawaite Teaches Us
The Takanawaite discovered in Mt. Takanawa, Ehime Prefecture, unfortunately has limited commercial value. However, the discovery holds great significance.
Dr. Daisuke Hamane of the University of Tokyo's Institute for Solid State Physics stated, "Minerals with such high-density concentrations of these components are extremely rare and serve as a clue for investigating domestic rare earth distribution. If we can elucidate the conditions of occurrence and search for places with similar geology, we might be able to target undiscovered deposits."
In other words, Takanawaite could serve as an important "indicator" for rare earth exploration within Japan.
No Quick Fix — Patient Accumulation is Necessary
There's no shortcut to becoming a "resource power." Both the seabed resource development off Minamitorishima and land-based exploration like at Mt. Takanawa can only be realized through patient accumulation of scientific research and technological innovation.
What Japan needs is a multifaceted approach:
- Diversification of procurement: Strengthening acquisition from countries other than China, such as Australia, India, and Kazakhstan
- Development of alternative technologies: Research on magnets and materials that don't use rare earths
- Promotion of recycling: Rare earth recovery from used products
- Domestic resource development: Establishing exploration and mining technologies for both seabed and land
Conclusion: What's the Rare Earth Situation in Your Country?
Japan has embarked on an ambitious project for deep-sea mining off Minamitorishima, while exploration for rare minerals continues on land, as at Mt. Takanawa. Whether Japan, long considered a resource-poor nation, will one day support its industries with domestic resources depends on future technological innovation and international circumstances.
What discussions are taking place in your country regarding important mineral resources like rare earths? Are there domestic mining projects? What efforts are being made to reduce dependence on China? Please share your country's situation in the comments. By sharing examples from around the world, let's deepen our understanding of this complex issue together.
References
- https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/e7847463b383ec54edc5989eaea065df4f3772e6
- https://www.jamstec.go.jp/j/about/press_release/20251223/
- https://utf.u-tokyo.ac.jp/project/pjt124
- https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOSG082ZL0Y6A100C2000000/
- https://shizen-hatch.net/2021/03/04/rare_earth_elements/
- https://www.spf.org/opri/global-data/opri/perspectives/prsp_036_2025_kobayashi.pdf
Reactions in Japan
Everyone's focused on Minamitorishima, but I think the discovery of Takanawaite on land is also important. It provides clues for understanding domestic resource distribution. Even if we can't commercialize it immediately, it has value as basic research.
Takanawaite can be mined out in 2-3 days... That's too honest, I had to laugh. But this kind of honesty from scientists is important. More trustworthy than media hype about 'Resource Superpower Japan.'
As someone working in EV development, the 100% China dependency for heavy rare earths is truly scary. I hope the Minamitorishima project succeeds even if it's not profitable.
Thinking rationally, can mining at 6,000m depth be profitable? The research vessel Chikyu costs over 10 billion yen annually... How far will they go with taxpayer money?
I was surprised to hear that seabed rare earths are clean resources with almost no radioactive waste. Considering the environmental destruction at Chinese land mines, this is a huge advantage.
The news about Chinese carriers entering Minamitorishima's EEZ should get more coverage. It's an important area not just for rare earth mining but also for territorial defense.
Over 10 years since discovering Takanawaite, and the conclusion is still 'commercialization is difficult.' Dreams are nice, but shouldn't we invest more in developing alternative technologies that don't use rare earths?
I didn't know rare earths were found at our local Mt. Takanawa! It won't become a tourist attraction, but I'm proud that Ehime contributed to this kind of scientific discovery.
Looking at estimates that China's rare earth export restrictions would cause 660 billion yen losses in 3 months, 2.6 trillion in a year, the Minamitorishima project investment might not be expensive as insurance.
Finding a new mineral from rocks that collapsed in the 2001 Geiyo Earthquake... It's ironic but interesting that science advances through disasters. The re-examination after the 2011 earthquake too.
Diversifying rare earth sources is always on the agenda at work. But in the end, nothing can beat Chinese products in quality and price. Domestic production is ideal, but reality is harsh.
I honestly never thought about rare earths before, but it's scary that smartphones and EVs all depend on China. Shouldn't schools teach more about resource issues?
Environmental impacts of deep-sea mining are not yet fully understood. They say the closed-loop system suppresses sediment dispersion, but long-term ecosystem impact studies should proceed in parallel.
Possible commercial mining by 2030? That's actually not far away! I believe Japan's technology can definitely do it. Go Chikyu!
New mining is important, but I want more attention on urban mining recovery technology. Discarded smartphones and appliances contain significant rare earths.
The Cabinet Office leading the SIP project means this is clearly an economic security matter. They're proceeding as national strategy rather than for profitability. I personally support this.
As an American, Japan's efforts here are fascinating. We're also struggling to break free from China dependency. If the Minamitorishima project succeeds, we might be able to cooperate in the supply chain as allies.
Securing rare earths for wind power is a major challenge in Germany too. If Japan's deep-sea mining technology is established, it could become an important alternative supply source for Europe. I think this project deserves attention from the entire EU.
From China's perspective, our dominance in rare earths is partly the result of the West pushing environmental costs onto us. If Japan mines domestically, they should bear that environmental responsibility themselves.
As someone in Australian mining, the technical challenge of mining at 6,000m depth is truly impressive. However, I doubt they can win price competition against land mines. Our mines probably have the cost advantage.
Korea faces the same China rare earth dependency issue as Japan. Japan's success could strengthen supply chains across East Asia, so we're watching closely. I hope they consider technology sharing.
From the UK EV industry perspective, clean seabed rare earths with minimal radioactive waste are attractive. It might resolve the contradiction of destroying the environment to make green cars.
Mexico has rare earth deposits too, but development hasn't progressed. If Japan's technology is established, it might be applicable to our mine development. We'd like to explore possibilities for international cooperation.
Vietnam has rare earth reserves second to China, but we lack refining technology. I hope Japan considers cooperation with Asian partners, not just seabed development.
As a Dutch marine engineer, the 6,000m deep-sea mining system is technically fascinating. They seem to be leveraging oil and gas development experience, but there must be rare earth-specific challenges. Looking forward to technical papers.
Canada is also discussing rare earth mine development. Japan's experience is helpful, but balancing with environmental protection is the challenge. I hope they conduct thorough deep-sea ecosystem impact assessments.
India has recently been putting effort into rare earth development. We're interested in possibilities for technical cooperation with Japan. Multilateral cooperation is essential to change the China-centric supply chain.
Brazil has rare earth resources too, but development is difficult due to Amazon environmental protection concerns. Japan's seabed mining approach deserves attention as an environmentally friendly alternative.
Russia has rare earth resources too, but development has stalled due to international sanctions. Japan's project is technically interesting, but they seem to underestimate geopolitical risks.
France has a history of withdrawing from rare earth refining. Considering environmental and health risks, Japan's 'clean seabed resource' concept is innovative. Wishing them success.
Taiwan's semiconductor industry also depends on rare earths. For us with complex relations with China, Japan's success in domestic production is a beacon of hope. We really hope they succeed.