Supply disruptions of Rare Earths (RE) can not only affect certain industries in consuming countries, but also hamper the development of climate friendly technologies.1, 2 Japan is the major demander of RE outside of China due to its industry structure with world leading electronic manufacturers and first movers in the field of electric and hybrid vehicles. Mitigation of RE supply disruptions is therefore crucial for the economy of Japan.Whereas recent contributions to mitigation strategies discuss RE material flows, recycling potentials and the establishment of alternative supply chains outside of China,3, 4,5 minor attention has been put on the evaluation of mitigation strategies that aim to diversify a country's supply structure. This contribution provides insights into the reactions of the economy and politics in Japan on the RE crisis, the changes in the RE supply structure of Japan's economy in recent years and examines results and challenges of these changes.
展开▼
