Japan, a densely populated nation comprising a mountainous archipelago, faces a distinctive challenge regarding its natural resources. The country’s geography, characterized by limited arable land and a young geological structure, results in a general scarcity of non-renewable resources compared to many other industrialized nations. Despite this, Japan possesses notable domestic resources stemming from its high rainfall, volcanic activity, and extensive surrounding marine environment.
Defining Biological Resources
Japan’s biological resources represent one of its most substantial domestic natural endowments, particularly in the form of forests and marine life. Forests cover approximately two-thirds, or about 67%, of the total land area, a percentage that has remained stable for over half a century due to conservation efforts and the challenging terrain. The total volume of growing stock in these forests is considerable and has more than doubled since the 1950s, making timber and lumber a significant, albeit managed, resource for the nation.
Marine life constitutes another primary domestic resource, supported by the country’s long coastline and complex ocean currents. The waters surrounding Japan, including the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean, are exceptionally rich in biodiversity, hosting a high number of marine species. This richness is largely due to the intersection of warm currents like the Kuroshio and cold currents like the Oyashio, which bring nutrient-rich waters. These extensive fishing grounds continue to be a vital source of food and aquaculture, even though the country now imports a substantial portion of its fishery products.
Water and Geothermal Potential
The mountainous geography and high precipitation levels in Japan contribute to abundant water resources, which are harnessed for both industrial use and energy production. The country receives ample rainfall, which feeds a network of steep-gradient rivers that flow quickly from the mountains to the sea. This combination of plentiful water volume and significant elevation changes creates ideal conditions for hydropower generation. Hydroelectric power is a valuable, purely domestic energy source, accounting for a significant portion of Japan’s internally produced energy, utilizing large-scale conventional dams and pumped-storage plants to help balance the power grid.
The volcanic nature of the Japanese archipelago, positioned on the Pacific Ring of Fire, provides a massive geothermal resource potential. Japan is estimated to have one of the world’s largest geothermal resource potentials, with some surveys indicating a theoretical capacity exceeding 20,000 megawatts (MW). This potential is derived from the presence of around 100 active volcanoes and extensive subsurface heat. Despite this immense capacity, the fully developed installed geothermal power generation capacity has historically been limited, partly due to development restrictions in national parks and local opposition from hot spring owners.
Mineral and Fossil Fuel Scarcity
Japan’s resource profile is heavily defined by a severe scarcity of non-renewable resources, leading to a high reliance on imports. Domestic reserves of the main fossil fuels—oil, natural gas, and coal—are negligible. Consequently, Japan relies on imports for nearly all of its petroleum needs, with dependency on foreign sources for crude oil exceeding 97%. This deficit extends to natural gas and coal, with the country being one of the world’s largest importers of liquefied natural gas (LNG). The geological youth of the Japanese landmass limits the formation of significant hydrocarbon deposits, resulting in a low energy self-sufficiency ratio compared to other developed nations.
Similarly, the country lacks substantial indigenous deposits of most industrial minerals required for its advanced manufacturing sector. While historical deposits of copper, lead, and iron ore once existed, they are now largely depleted or uneconomical to extract. Japan is almost entirely dependent on foreign sources for essential metals like nickel, cobalt, and bauxite, which are needed for industrial applications. The few exceptions to this scarcity are industrial minerals like limestone, which the country produces in sufficient quantities for self-sufficiency.