In a bid to cut down on its dependence on China for rare earth elements, Japan launched the deep - sea drilling vessel 'Chikyu' on January 11, 2026. The ship set off from Shimizu Port in Shizuoka Prefecture, heading for the waters surrounding Minami - Torishima Island, which lies about 1,900 - 2,000 kilometers to the southeast of Tokyo. This expedition represents the world's first attempt to mine rare earths from a 6,000 - meter depth in the deep sea.

The trial mining operation is set to run until February 14. Its primary goal is to ascertain the technical viability of extracting rare earth resources from such extreme depths. The waters around Minami - Torishima Island are home to abundant rare earth reserves, with an estimated quantity exceeding 16 million tons. Notably, there are substantial deposits of dysprosium and yttrium.

However, deep - sea mining is fraught with enormous technical challenges. These include the crushing high pressure at great depths, extremely low temperatures, and difficulties in communication. Despite these formidable obstacles, Japan is hopeful that this trial mining will pave the way for future commercial rare earth extraction. By doing so, the country aims to reduce its reliance on imported rare earths and ensure its national strategic security.