Japan: Rare earth survey technology for SMEs: Unmanned Deepseacraft “Edokko 1”
China trump card: rare earth export restrictions
As a trump card on the Chinese side for friction between the US and China, export restrictions on rare earths are underway.
It is indispensable for EV components, and China holds about 70% of global production.
Minamitorishima sea area in Japan: rare earth for hundreds of years
It is possible that rare earths that exceed hundreds of years of global demand are sleeping in the southern eastern waters of Japan’s easternmost tip.
Understanding marine resources is very important from a security perspective.
Japan’s National Project: “Innovative Deep Sea Resources Survey Technology”
“Innovative deep sea resource survey technology” is being developed as a national project.
By deeply developing deep sea research capabilities, we aim to establish technology to collect rare earth mud from a depth of 6000 meters by 2022.
Petroleum resource development advisor: Mr. Shoichi Ishii
“The advanced technology of small and medium-sized companies is indispensable for this technological development.”
Unmanned Deepseacraft: “Edokko 1”
Okamoto Glass: Okamoto Glass manufactures pressure glass bulbs for the heart
Pearl Giken: Pearl Giken (Funabashi City, Chiba) manufactures a weight separating device
Vacuum mold industry: Vacuum molded plastic cover manufactured by Vacuum Mold Industry (Sumida-ku, Tokyo)
Past lessons:
In 2010, China gave up with Japan and “regulated exports to Japan with rare earth as a weapon” is a new memory.
Japan has the 6th largest territorial waters and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the world.
Japanese SMEs’ advanced technology supports the development of marine resources.
Opinion News Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun