Foreign-affiliated mining companies have made successive discoveries of ore containing high-grade gold as Japan moves toward developing its first new gold mine in half a century. Multiple high-grade ore deposits have been confirmed at the Yamanogano Gold Mine and around mines in Hokkaido, advancing efforts toward commercial mining.
Foreign-affiliated companies have successively discovered ore containing high-grade gold, raising the possibility of developing a new gold mine in Japan. A Canadian exploration company and a Japanese company have confirmed high-grade ore at multiple sites at the former Yamanogano Gold Mine in northern Kagoshima Prefecture and in northern Hokkaido.
In March 2026, multiple samples of ore grading 10.30–46.10 grams per tonne were publicly reported at the former Yamanogano Gold Mine. The company suggested that commercial mining may be possible, saying that only limited veins had been developed to date. The discovery of high-grade ore was also reported in Omu Town, Hokkaido, where 118.5 grams of ore was found during initial test drilling and ore grading up to 24.22 grams was reportedly found in 2025.
Ore grading 24.1 grams was also discovered around the former Kounomai Gold Mine in Monbetsu, and Japan Gold is said to have confirmed similar high-grade ore. The companies plan to continue test drilling, confirm reserves and assess the feasibility of commercial mining, advancing studies aimed at developing new gold mines in Japan.
The discoveries are viewed by some as part of efforts to secure resources, reflecting the stable-asset characteristics of bullion and precious metals that support Japan's gold demand, as well as their use in electronic and medical equipment. Depending on the results of future test drilling and reserve evaluations, commercial-scale mining could become more realistic.