Group 1 - Trump has announced a plan to impose tariffs of up to 25% on goods imported from Japan and South Korea, affecting 14 countries in total [1][3] - The U.S. has previously raised Japan's auto import tariffs from 2.5% to 27.5% and introduced a 14% "reciprocal tariff," with potential cumulative tariffs reaching as high as 49% if negotiations fail [3] - Japan's government is actively discussing countermeasures in response to the U.S. tariff threats, emphasizing their commitment to protect national interests during negotiations [3][5] Group 2 - Japan is planning to initiate experimental deep-sea drilling for rare earth elements near Minami-Torishima Island, aiming to reduce reliance on Chinese rare earth supplies [6] - The estimated reserves of rare earth elements in the area are around 16 million tons, making it the third-largest globally, but the high cost and technical challenges of deep-sea extraction remain significant hurdles [6] - Environmental concerns have been raised regarding the potential impact of deep-sea mining on marine ecosystems, although monitoring systems are being established to mitigate risks [6]

Core Viewpoint - Japan will begin deep-sea rare earth mining in January next year, marking a significant step in resource extraction from ocean beds [1] Group 1: Project Details - The Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology will deploy the deep-sea scientific drilling vessel "Chikyu" approximately 100 to 150 kilometers off the coast of Minami-Torishima [1] - A pipeline will be sunk to a depth of 5,500 meters below the sea surface to collect 35 tons of sediment [1] - The operation, including pipeline placement, is expected to take about three weeks, after which the sediment will be transported back to Japan [1] Group 2: Resource Potential - Each ton of sediment is estimated to contain about 2 kilograms of rare earth minerals [1] - The seabed around Japan is rich in rare earth elements, with the area near Minami-Torishima estimated to hold approximately 16 million tons of rare earth, making it the third-largest reserve globally [1]