Ama woman (pearl diver) getting caught in a wave, Japan 1955. Photo by Yoshiyuki Iwase
Japanese women have been fishing in the sea for 2,000 years and have been part of the Japanese cultural heritage for quite some time as well. Known now as Am.
The Breathhold of Japan's Pearl Diving Mermaids Underwater360
Pearl hunting, also known as pearling, is the activity of recovering pearls from wild molluscs, usually oysters or mussels, in the sea or freshwater. Pearl hunting was prevalent in the Persian Gulf region and Japan for thousands of years.
The amazing story of Japan's freediving fisherwomen Discovery
Meet the ama divers of Ise-Shima, the women preserving Japan's ancient art of sea foraging Numbers of ama, Japan's female divers, have declined in recent years as generations left to pursue careers in big cities. The Ise-Shima peninsula, in southern Mie Prefecture, remains one of the best places to learn all about this age-old practice.
Japan's Ama Divers A Sacred Tradition
Japan is home to the world's most famous and sophisticated Mikimoto pearls. The indigenous craft began its first pearl cultivation in 1893 at a pearl oyster farm at the Shinmei inlet on Ago Bay in Mie Prefecture.The founder, Kokichi Mikimoto (1858-1954), was fascinated by pearl divers in Ise when he was a young man and dreamed of further perfecting the art of pearl culture.
Japan's Ama Divers A Sacred Tradition
Ama pearl divers represent one of Japan's less-known and yet fascinating cultures. Ama (海女 in Japanese), literally translates to 'woman of the sea' and has been recorded as far back as 750 in the oldest Japanese poetry collection, the Man'yoshu . Original text by Elizabeth Lim (Asian Diver Issue 02/2020 Vol. 158)
Extreme Swimming The Ama Divers Pearl of Japan YouTube
One of the lesser-known but fascinating parts of Japanese culture is that of the Ama pearl divers. Ama (海女 in Japanese), literally means 'woman of the sea' and is recorded as early as 750 in the oldest Japanese anthology of poetry, the Man'yoshu.
Japan’s last female ‘Ama’ pearldivers BBC Travel
Ama divers are extraordinary freestyle divers who dive for fish, seaweed and pearls.
AMA collection International women’s day, Japanese pearls, Woman’s day
In these photos from 1937, pearl-divers pose on the beach in the Miye Prefecture in Western Japan. Japanese photographer Iwase Yoshiyuki (first photo) picked up his Kodak camera and took these wonderful pictures of the mermaids who dived for oysters, abalone, seaweed and turban shells. In years to come, the wet suit would replace the birthday suit.
The Breathhold of Japan's Pearl Diving Mermaids Underwater360
Ama (海女, "sea women") are Japanese divers famous for collecting pearls, though traditionally their main catch is seafood. [1] The vast majority of ama are women. Terminology There are several sea occupations that are pronounced "ama" and several words that refer to sea occupation. ama (海女) - a female sea-diving fisherperson
PEARLS DIVERS AMA
The term Ama (海女 in Japanese) literally means 'women of the sea', as women were always the preferred divers in Japan. Since ancient times Ama would free dive into the Pacific to retrieve seaweed, abalone, shellfish, and sometimes pearls, wearing nothing but a loincloth and goggles.
The Breathhold of Japan's Pearl Diving Mermaids Underwater360
Japanese Ama pearl divers off Mikimoto Pearl Island, in Ise Bay, offshore Toba, Mie Prefecture, Japan, where the women dive for cultured pearl. Japanese skin diver or 'Ama' surfaces for air near the small fishing village of Onjuku in the Chiba prefecture of Japan, August 1959.
Extreme Swimming The Ama Divers Pearl of Japan Swimcore
Japan's last female 'Ama' pearl-divers 29th February 2020, 06:01 PST Share By Tern TV Features correspondent The 'sea women' of Japan The tradition of Japanese freediving has been passed down.
The Breathhold of Japan's Pearl Diving Mermaids Underwater360
Mikimoto used Ama divers to look after his cultivated pearls on Mikimoto Pearl Island, near Toba city. This business was the main reason for the strong association between Ama and pearl diving among foreign observers that continues to this day.
"Life of Ama divers" series by Yoshiyuki Iwase Japanese pearls, Japanese history, Japanese culture
In the Deep End: Pearl Divers in Modern Japan. Elena Kozar December, 1 2021. Ama, or "sea women," is a Japanese name for pearl divers. This tradition has been around for 2,000 years in Japan, but now it's fading away. Photographer Stefan Dotter captured one of the few families where three generations of women still go diving into the deep.
AmaPearl Divers at Mikimoto Pearl Island YouTube
Ama divers in Japan are professional fisherwomen who free dive to harvest seashell, seafood, and seaweed at the bottom of the sea. They also used to practice pearl oysters' fishing.
Ama women diver
Ama pearl diving is deeply rooted in Japanese culture, and its influence extends beyond the coastal regions where it originated. The practice has become synonymous with Japan's identity and heritage, captivating the imagination of people worldwide. While Ama diving is concentrated in specific areas such as the Ise-Shima region and Toba City.
