The Japanese government on Monday, Feb. 2 announced that the country has successfully retrieved rare-earth-rich mud from the deep seabed for the first time, marking a milestone in its efforts to secure critical mineral supplies and reduce reliance on China, which currently controls 90 percent of rare earth metal production.
Rare earths are criticial for manufacturing high-tech goods, including batteries and computers used in all kinds of modern consumer, industrial, and military products.
The Japanese recovery took place during a month-long test mission by the scientific drilling vessel Chikyu near Minamitorishima, a remote atoll about 1,900 kilometers (around 1180 miles) southeast of Tokyo, according to Japan’s Cabinet Office and the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), as reported by Reuters.
Minamitori, just 370 acres in size and with no permanent population, is the easternmost point of Japan’s territory. The seas around the island are part of Tokyo’s exclusive economic zone, giving Japan free reign to exploit the rare earth minerals in the region.
The Cabinet Office reported that the prospecting ship departed on Jan. 12, to explore deposits of rare-earth-bearing mud located at depths of around 6,000 meters (nearly 20,000 ft), or roughly four miles, beneath the ocean surface. After arriving at the site on Jan. 17, the Chikyu began recovery operations on Jan. 30 and confirmed its first successful retrieval of rare-earth mud on Sunday, Feb. 1, the Cabinet Office said.
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The mission marks the world’s first attempt to continuously lift rare-earth-rich seabed mud from such extreme depths directly to a surface vessel, Japanese officials said. Recovery operations were completed at three locations by Feb. 2, according to JAMSTEC spokesperson Ayumi Yoshimatsu.
“This was a verification test to confirm whether rare-earth-bearing mud can be lifted continuously from the seabed at ultra-deep depths,” Yoshimatsu said, adding that further analysis would determine the volume and mineral composition of the recovered material.
Samples will be analyzed after the Chikyu returns to Shimizu port in central Japan on Feb. 15, she said.
The mud is believed to contain rare earth elements such as dysprosium and neodymium, which are used in high-performance magnets for electric vehicle motors, as well as gadolinium and terbium, which are critical for a range of advanced electronics and defense technologies.
Japan’s push into deep-sea resource development comes amid rising geopolitical tensions and growing concern over supply-chain vulnerabilities. China currently dominates global rare-earth production and processing, accounting for roughly 60 percent of mining output and nearly 90 percent of processing capacity.
In January 2026, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) imposed new restrictions on exports of certain dual-use items, including rare earths, to Japan amid a diplomatic dispute. The move has heightened concerns among Japanese manufacturers that depend on stable access to the materials.
Japanese electronic components maker TDK Corp said on February 3 that it has been affected by the Chinese export controls and is accelerating efforts to diversify procurement sources, according to Reuters.
Japanese officials say the deep-sea deposits near Minamitorishima could provide a long-term alternative supply, though commercial production remains years away. “Barring major technical issues, Japan plans to move toward a full-scale mining trial in February 2027,” Yoshimatsu said.
Environmental concerns remain a major hurdle, as deep-sea mining faces international scrutiny over its potential impact on fragile marine ecosystems. Japan has said any future development would proceed in line with international rules and environmental standards.
Still, the government views the test as a strategic breakthrough. If proven commercially viable, seabed mining could help insulate Japan’s high-tech and automotive industries from external supply shocks, at a time when competition over critical minerals is intensifying worldwide.
