There are new attempts in Japan to bolster the country’s rare earth supply chain through recycling and exploration of alternative sources of critical minerals. This strategy was developed amid growing concerns over security of supplies for various industries as geopolitical risks increase while China remains dominant in mining and processing of rare earths. Despite impressive success of Japan in recycling of rare earth elements from waste electronic products, industrial machinery and manufacturing waste, it is widely acknowledged that recycling alone would not make a difference in the struggle against China’s monopolistic position.<\/p>
\u30cd\u30aa\u30b8\u30e0\u3001\u30b8\u30b9\u30d7\u30ed\u30b7\u30a6\u30e0\u3001\u30c6\u30eb\u30d3\u30a6\u30e0\u3001\u30a4\u30c3\u30c8\u30ea\u30a6\u30e0\u306a\u3069\u306e\u5e0c\u571f\u985e\u5143\u7d20\u306f\u3001\u96fb\u6c17\u81ea\u52d5\u8eca\u3001\u98a8\u529b\u30bf\u30fc\u30d3\u30f3\u3001\u534a\u5c0e\u4f53\u3001\u30ed\u30dc\u30c3\u30c8\u5de5\u5b66\u3001\u9632\u885b\u88c5\u5099\u3001\u6c11\u751f\u7528\u96fb\u5b50\u6a5f\u5668\u3001\u305d\u3057\u3066\u4eba\u5de5\u77e5\u80fd\uff08AI\uff09\u30a4\u30f3\u30d5\u30e9\u306b\u304a\u3044\u3066\u4e0d\u53ef\u6b20\u306a\u8981\u7d20\u3068\u306a\u3063\u3066\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002\u3053\u3046\u3057\u305f\u6280\u8853\u306b\u5bfe\u3059\u308b\u9700\u8981\u306e\u9ad8\u307e\u308a\u306b\u3088\u308a\u3001\u91cd\u8981\u9271\u7269\u306e\u4f9b\u7d66\u554f\u984c\u306f\u7279\u306b\u6df1\u523b\u5316\u3057\u3066\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002.<\/p>
Japan has been aware of the significance of cutting down the country’s dependence on rare earth imports for a long time already. Having learned from previous supply issues, Japan has been actively working on resource diversification, stockpiling, and advanced recycling methods able to recover precious metals from old electronic devices.<\/p>
Japanese firms are developing advanced recycling methods that enable them to separate rare earths from magnets used in electric motors, hard disk drives, industrial machinery, and consumer electronics. At the same time, these developments help meet the goals of the country’s circular economy and decrease the consumption of primary materials.<\/p>
\u3057\u304b\u3057\u3001\u65e5\u672c\u4f01\u696d\u304c\u958b\u767a\u3057\u305f\u5148\u9032\u7684\u306a\u6280\u8853\u304c\u3042\u308b\u306b\u3082\u304b\u304b\u308f\u3089\u305a\u3001\u30ea\u30b5\u30a4\u30af\u30eb\u7d20\u6750\u306f\u5fc5\u8981\u306a\u6750\u6599\u5168\u4f53\u306e\u3054\u304f\u4e00\u90e8\u306b\u904e\u304e\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3002\u5b8c\u5168\u306b\u81ea\u7d66\u81ea\u8db3\u7684\u306a\u30b5\u30d7\u30e9\u30a4\u30c1\u30a7\u30fc\u30f3\u3092\u5b9f\u73fe\u3059\u308b\u3053\u3068\u306f\u3001\u9577\u671f\u7684\u306b\u306f\u56f0\u96e3\u306a\u8ab2\u984c\u3067\u3059\u3002.<\/p>
\u65e5\u672c\u304c\u30ea\u30b5\u30a4\u30af\u30eb\u65bd\u7b56\u306e\u62e1\u5927\u306b\u53d6\u308a\u7d44\u3093\u3067\u3044\u308b\u3068\u306f\u3044\u3048\u3001\u4e16\u754c\u7684\u306a\u30ec\u30a2\u30a2\u30fc\u30b9\u5e02\u5834\u306b\u304a\u3044\u3066\u3001\u4e2d\u56fd\u304c\u4f9d\u7136\u3068\u3057\u3066\u975e\u5e38\u306b\u5f37\u56fa\u306a\u5730\u4f4d\u3092\u5360\u3081\u3066\u3044\u308b\u3053\u3068\u306b\u7559\u610f\u3059\u3079\u304d\u3067\u3059\u3002.<\/p>
First, China alone produces most of the world’s rare earths and second, the country holds dominance in the highly advanced process of refining and separating these minerals before their use in manufacturing. In other words, this combination of capabilities provides the Chinese leadership with considerable leverage over the global markets and prices.<\/p>
\u4e00\u90e8\u306e\u91cd\u5e0c\u571f\u985e\u9271\u7269\u306e\u8f38\u51fa\u7981\u6b62\u63aa\u7f6e\u306b\u3088\u308a\u3001\u65e5\u672c\u3084\u305d\u306e\u4ed6\u306e\u5148\u9032\u56fd\u306e\u88fd\u9020\u696d\u8005\u304c\u76f4\u9762\u3059\u308b\u8ab2\u984c\u304c\u518d\u3073\u6ce8\u76ee\u3092\u96c6\u3081\u3066\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002\u65e5\u672c\u306e\u4f01\u696d\u306f\u3001\u65b0\u305f\u306a\u539f\u6750\u6599\u306e\u8abf\u9054\u5148\u3092\u6a21\u7d22\u3059\u308b\u3068\u3068\u3082\u306b\u3001\u30b5\u30d7\u30e9\u30a4\u30c1\u30a7\u30fc\u30f3\u306b\u751f\u3058\u3046\u308b\u30ea\u30b9\u30af\u306b\u3064\u3044\u3066\u6295\u8cc7\u5bb6\u3078\u306e\u6ce8\u610f\u559a\u8d77\u3092\u958b\u59cb\u3057\u3066\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002.<\/p>
\u7d50\u8ad6\u3068\u3057\u3066\u3001\u30ea\u30b5\u30a4\u30af\u30eb\u306f\u78ba\u304b\u306b\u65e5\u672c\u306e\u5168\u4f53\u7684\u306a\u6226\u7565\u306e\u4e00\u74b0\u3067\u306f\u3042\u308a\u307e\u3059\u304c\u3001\u4ed6\u306b\u3082\u6295\u8cc7\u304c\u5fc5\u8981\u306a\u5206\u91ce\u304c\u3042\u308b\u3068\u8a00\u3048\u307e\u3059\u3002.<\/p>
The rare earth problem has immediate repercussions in the area of Japan’s technological sector, which is among the most important economic drivers in the country.<\/p>
\u96fb\u6c17\u81ea\u52d5\u8eca\u3001\u30ed\u30dc\u30c3\u30c8\u3001\u7cbe\u5bc6\u6a5f\u5668\u3001\u534a\u5c0e\u4f53\u3001\u30d0\u30c3\u30c6\u30ea\u30fc\u3001\u901a\u4fe1\u6a5f\u5668\u3001\u305d\u3057\u3066\u30b0\u30ea\u30fc\u30f3\u30a8\u30cd\u30eb\u30ae\u30fc\u30a4\u30f3\u30d5\u30e9\u3092\u88fd\u9020\u3059\u308b\u4f01\u696d\u306f\u3001\u3044\u305a\u308c\u3082\u5e0c\u571f\u985e\u5143\u7d20\u306e\u5b89\u5b9a\u4f9b\u7d66\u306b\u4f9d\u5b58\u3057\u3066\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002\u4f9b\u7d66\u4e0d\u8db3\u304c\u751f\u3058\u308c\u3070\u3001\u88fd\u9020\u30b3\u30b9\u30c8\u306e\u5897\u52a0\u3084\u88fd\u9020\u306e\u9045\u5ef6\u3092\u62db\u304d\u3001\u8f38\u51fa\u5e02\u5834\u306b\u304a\u3051\u308b\u7af6\u4e89\u529b\u304c\u4f4e\u4e0b\u3059\u308b\u3053\u3068\u306b\u306a\u308a\u307e\u3059\u3002.<\/p>
\u73fe\u5728\u306e\u72b6\u6cc1\u306f\u3001\u65e5\u672c\u306b\u3068\u3063\u3066\u8ab2\u984c\u3092\u3082\u305f\u3089\u3057\u3066\u3044\u308b\u4e00\u65b9\u3067\u3001\u30ea\u30b5\u30a4\u30af\u30eb\u6280\u8853\u3001\u6750\u6599\u79d1\u5b66\u3001\u7523\u696d\u30aa\u30fc\u30c8\u30e1\u30fc\u30b7\u30e7\u30f3\u3001\u304a\u3088\u3073\u5148\u7aef\u88fd\u9020\u8a2d\u5099\u306b\u6ce8\u529b\u3059\u308b\u65e5\u672c\u306e\u4f01\u696d\u306b\u306f\u3001\u65b0\u305f\u306a\u30d3\u30b8\u30cd\u30b9\u30c1\u30e3\u30f3\u30b9\u3082\u3082\u305f\u3089\u3057\u3066\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002\u30a2\u30fc\u30d0\u30f3\u30de\u30a4\u30cb\u30f3\u30b0\u3084\u5148\u7aef\u30ea\u30b5\u30a4\u30af\u30eb\u65bd\u8a2d\u3078\u306e\u6295\u8cc7\u9700\u8981\u306f\u4eca\u5f8c\u9ad8\u307e\u3063\u3066\u3044\u304f\u3067\u3057\u3087\u3046\u3002.<\/p>
The focus on critical minerals also aligns with Japan’s strategy around making semiconductors, its own AI capabilities, advanced robotics, and clean energy technology.<\/p>
\u65e5\u672c\u56fd\u5185\u3067\u4e8b\u696d\u3092\u5c55\u958b\u3059\u308b\u4f01\u696d\u306b\u3068\u3063\u3066\u3001\u30b5\u30d7\u30e9\u30a4\u30c1\u30a7\u30fc\u30f3\u306e\u30ec\u30b8\u30ea\u30a8\u30f3\u30b9\u306f\u3001\u30b3\u30b9\u30c8\u52b9\u7387\u3068\u540c\u69d8\u306b\u4e0d\u53ef\u6b20\u306a\u3082\u306e\u3068\u306a\u3063\u3066\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002.<\/p>
\u30e1\u30fc\u30ab\u30fc\u5404\u793e\u306f\u3001\u30b5\u30d7\u30e9\u30a4\u30e4\u30fc\u306e\u591a\u69d8\u5316\u3092\u9032\u3081\u3001\u6226\u7565\u7684\u5728\u5eab\u3092\u5897\u5f37\u3057\u3001\u3055\u3089\u306b\u306f\u4e2d\u56fd\u3092\u6392\u9664\u3057\u305f\u9577\u671f\u7684\u306a\u8abf\u9054\u5951\u7d04\u3092\u7d50\u3076\u3053\u3068\u3055\u3048\u59cb\u3081\u3066\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002\u3055\u3089\u306b\u3001\u591a\u304f\u306e\u4f01\u696d\u304c\u3001\u6750\u6599\u306e\u5229\u7528\u52b9\u7387\u3092\u9ad8\u3081\u305f\u308a\u3001\u53ef\u80fd\u3067\u3042\u308c\u3070\u5e0c\u571f\u985e\u5143\u7d20\u3078\u306e\u4f9d\u5b58\u5ea6\u3092\u4f4e\u6e1b\u3057\u305f\u308a\u3059\u308b\u305f\u3081\u306b\u3001\u88fd\u54c1\u8a2d\u8a08\u306e\u898b\u76f4\u3057\u3092\u9032\u3081\u3066\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002.<\/p>
\u3053\u3046\u3057\u305f\u53d6\u308a\u7d44\u307f\u306e\u3059\u3079\u3066\u304c\u3001\u88fd\u9020\u696d\u8005\u3001\u30ea\u30b5\u30a4\u30af\u30eb\u4f01\u696d\u3001\u7814\u7a76\u6a5f\u95a2\u3001\u305d\u3057\u3066\u653f\u5e9c\u9593\u306e\u9023\u643a\u3092\u4fc3\u9032\u3059\u308b\u3082\u306e\u3068\u898b\u8fbc\u307e\u308c\u307e\u3059\u3002\u307e\u305f\u3001\u4eba\u5de5\u77e5\u80fd\u3001\u4e88\u6e2c\u5206\u6790\u3001\u30d6\u30ed\u30c3\u30af\u30c1\u30a7\u30fc\u30f3\u306a\u3069\u306e\u6280\u8853\u3082\u3001\u30b5\u30d7\u30e9\u30a4\u30c1\u30a7\u30fc\u30f3\u306e\u900f\u660e\u6027\u3092\u9ad8\u3081\u3001\u6df7\u4e71\u8981\u56e0\u3092\u4e8b\u524d\u306b\u7279\u5b9a\u3059\u308b\u305f\u3081\u306b\u6d3b\u7528\u3055\u308c\u3066\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002.<\/p>
\u56fd\u969b\u30d3\u30b8\u30cd\u30b9\u306b\u5f71\u97ff\u3092\u4e0e\u3048\u308b\u5730\u653f\u5b66\u7684\u30ea\u30b9\u30af\u306e\u9ad8\u307e\u308a\u3092\u8e0f\u307e\u3048\u308b\u3068\u3001\u30ec\u30b8\u30ea\u30a8\u30f3\u30c8\u306a\u8abf\u9054\u4f53\u5236\u306f\u3001\u3082\u306f\u3084\u5358\u306a\u308b\u30ea\u30b9\u30af\u7ba1\u7406\u306e\u554f\u984c\u3067\u306f\u306a\u304f\u3001\u7af6\u4e89\u4e0a\u306e\u512a\u4f4d\u6027\u3068\u306a\u3063\u3066\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002.<\/p>
The increasing number of rare earth recycling programs in Japan reveals the government’s commitment to improving resource security and aiding domestic manufacturing. Nevertheless, according to industry professionals, in the nearest future, Japan will not be able to substitute China’s production through recycling efforts.<\/p>
\u65e5\u672c\u306f\u305d\u306e\u76ee\u6a19\u3092\u9054\u6210\u3059\u308b\u305f\u3081\u3001\u30ea\u30b5\u30a4\u30af\u30eb\u3001\u6d77\u5916\u8cc7\u6e90\u958b\u767a\u3001\u56fd\u969b\u5354\u529b\u3001\u56fd\u5185\u3067\u306e\u7cbe\u88fd\u3001\u305d\u3057\u3066\u30a4\u30ce\u30d9\u30fc\u30b7\u30e7\u30f3\u306a\u3069\u3001\u3044\u304f\u3064\u304b\u306e\u6226\u7565\u3092\u63a8\u9032\u3057\u3066\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002\u3053\u3046\u3057\u305f\u53d6\u308a\u7d44\u307f\u3092\u901a\u3058\u3066\u3001\u65e5\u672c\u306f\u3001\u96fb\u6c17\u81ea\u52d5\u8eca\u3001\u4eba\u5de5\u77e5\u80fd\u3001\u518d\u751f\u53ef\u80fd\u30a8\u30cd\u30eb\u30ae\u30fc\u3001\u96fb\u5b50\u6a5f\u5668\u3068\u3044\u3063\u305f\u91cd\u8981\u7523\u696d\u3078\u306e\u652f\u63f4\u80fd\u529b\u3092\u7dad\u6301\u3057\u3064\u3064\u3001\u6226\u7565\u7684\u30ea\u30b9\u30af\u306e\u4f4e\u6e1b\u3092\u56f3\u3063\u3066\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002.<\/p>
Rare earth materials pose an innovative challenge to Japan’s tech companies. The companies, which would be able to create a more efficient recycling process and alternative materials or supply chains, would play a crucial role in Japan’s future manufacturing. The need for rare earth materials increases worldwide, and thus Japan’s strategy concerning the development of the rare earth ecosystem may bring economic security benefits and help to preserve its leadership in the manufacturing sector.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
There are new attempts in Japan to bolster the country’s rare earth supply chain through recycling and exploration of alternative sources of critical minerals. This strategy was developed amid growing concerns over security of supplies for various industries as geopolitical risks increase while China remains dominant in mining and processing of rare earths. Despite impressive success of Japan in recycling of rare earth elements from waste electronic products, industrial machinery and manufacturing waste, it is widely acknowledged that recycling alone would not make a difference in the struggle against China’s monopolistic position.Rare earths such as neodymium, dysprosium, terbium and yttrium are vital parts of electric vehicles, wind turbines, semiconductors, robotics, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":35838,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","postBodyCss":"","postBodyMargin":[],"postBodyPadding":[],"postBodyBackground":{"backgroundType":"classic","gradient":""},"footnotes":""},"categories":[84,8098,192],"tags":[240,8163,346,9389,491],"ppma_author":[572],"class_list":["post-35837","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-industrial-tech","category-news-articles","category-semiconductorandelectronics","tag-artificial-intelligence","tag-japan-tech","tag-manufacturing","tag-semiconductors-electronics","tag-supply-chain"],"yoast_head":"\n