Core Viewpoint - Japan is conducting deep-sea drilling tests in the Minami-Tori-shima area to explore seabed mud containing rare earth elements, aiming to reduce reliance on Chinese imports amid rising geopolitical tensions [3]. Group 1: Project Overview - The Japanese deep-sea drilling vessel "Chikyū" departed from Shimizu Port in Shizuoka on January 12, heading towards the Minami-Tori-shima area, approximately 2000 kilometers from Tokyo [3]. - The vessel is expected to take about one week to reach the drilling site, followed by approximately 20 days of deep-sea mud sampling experiments [3]. - The project aims to extract mud samples from a seabed depth of around 6000 meters to assess the feasibility of actual mining [3]. Group 2: Rare Earth Dependency and Strategic Shift - Japan currently relies on China for over 70% of its rare earth imports, highlighting a significant dependency [3]. - In response to recent geopolitical tensions, particularly after China announced a ban on exports of dual-use items to Japan, there is an increased focus within Japan on developing its own rare earth capabilities [3]. - The project leader, Masakazu Ishii, indicated that diversifying rare earth procurement sources and reducing over-reliance on specific countries is a priority, with domestic production being a key strategy [3]. - If the experiments are successful, Japan aims to initiate commercial mining by February 2027 [3].