- 14 Mar 2002
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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)
A great place to learn about the ama culture:
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.
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.
A great place to learn about the ama culture: