Society Toba's ama divers struggling for their survival

[thomas]

The profession of the Japanese ama divers faces extinction. Clad in wetsuits, ama divers submerge to incredible depths without air tanks to gather abalone, seaweed, other seafood, and sometimes pearls. They exist only in Japan and South Korea but are dying out in the profession's Japanese heartland of Mie Prefecture . Surveys show the number of divers in the cities of Toba and Shima has plummeted to fewer than 10 per cent of the 1949 figure.

Ama diver in Ise-shima (photo credit: Kyodo)​

Japan's ama divers are women who traditionally free-dive without scuba gear or other breathing apparatus to collect pearls, abalone, and other seafood. They are primarily found in the Ise-Shima region of Japan, and their history dates back more than 2,000 years. The term "ama" means "sea women" in Japanese, and the divers are known for their exceptional diving abilities and remarkable breath-holding techniques. They have traditionally played an important role in Japan's fishing industry and continue to be celebrated as a symbol of Japan's cultural heritage.

The main culprit appears to be environmental deterioration caused by rising seawater temperatures, which reduce catches. The resulting low incomes make it exceedingly difficult to sustain a living. Efforts are underway to improve the marine environment and secure new sources of revenue for divers, but there appears to be no silver bullet. Some locals are concerned that the culture of ama divers could cease to exist in generations to come. [...] In 2017, the central government designated the ama fishing method of Toba and Shima as an important intangible folk cultural asset. Two years later, Toba and Shima were recognized as a Japan Heritage Site by the Agency for Cultural Affairs.

FEATURE: Japan's "ama" divers struggle to survive as incomes plummet

Yoshino Uemura came late to the world of female "ama" divers, taking the plunge in her 40s. But now, over two decades later, she feels there is no time to lose if her chosen profession is to survive for future generations.

english.kyodonews.net

A great place to learn about the ama culture:

Toba Sea-Folk Museum

The Toba Sea-Folk Museum (鳥羽市立海の博物館) has a collection and display of about 60,000 sea-related folk material items, such as female pearl divers (ama), fishing, and sea festivals (in English and Japanese).

• JREF
• 4 Jan 2022
• Views: 665
• Category: Mie Prefecture

Museum  Toba Sea-Folk Museum

The Toba Sea-Folk Museum (鳥羽市立海の博物館 Toba shiritsu umi no hakubutsukan) is located in Uramura, just outside of Toba, Mie Prefecture. It houses a collection of over 60,000 exhibits about the history, culture, and traditions of the people living along the coast of Ise-Shima and their relationship...

• JREF
• 14 Sep 2022
• Category: Mie