Japan's Ama Divers A Sacred Tradition


The amazing story of Japan's freediving fisherwomen Discovery

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.


The Breathhold of Japan's Pearl Diving Mermaids Underwater360

Female pearl divers next to Kokichi Mikimoto, inventor of cultivating pearls. Japan, 1921. Nationaal Archief | Wikimedia Commons In celebration of International Women's Day 2019, I wanted to.


The Breathhold of Japan's Pearl Diving Mermaids Underwater360

Ama divers are extraordinary freestyle divers who dive for fish, seaweed and pearls.


Ama The Freediving Fisherwomen of Japan Amusing

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.


Ama Women Divers of Japan Where to See & Explore this Culture Dive O'Clock!

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 woman (pearl diver) getting caught in a wave, Japan 1955. Photo by Yoshiyuki Iwase

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)


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.


"Life of Ama divers" series by Yoshiyuki Iwase Japanese pearls, Japanese history, Japanese culture

Mikimoto employed Ama divers to care for his cultivated pearls on Mikimoto Pearl Island, close to Toba City. This in turn has kept the tradition of Ama diving alive, although minor changes did occur. Mikimoto Ama wore full-body, white diving costumes and used a wooden barrel as a buoy.


Extreme Swimming The Ama Divers Pearl of Japan YouTube

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


Extreme Swimming The Ama Divers Pearl of Japan Swimcore

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.


Japan's Ama Divers A Sacred Tradition

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.


Japan’s last female ‘Ama’ pearldivers BBC Travel

Ama, the Pearl Divers Ama, the Pearl Divers Toba English 5 hour Add to favorites The ama are more than just snorkelers, they are the custodians of a tradition that goes back thousands of years. Come and meet them in Toba, where the tradition of the pearl fisherwomen is still alive. Women of the sea


Pearl Divers Girls Ama Divers Japanese pearls, Japan art, Sea diving

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.


The Breathhold of Japan's Pearl Diving Mermaids Underwater360

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.


AMA collection International women’s day, Japanese pearls, Woman’s day

Posted on July 27, 2023. In coastal Japan, ama pearl divers, remarkable women, have practiced their craft for over two millennia. These fearless sea women collect pearls and treasures from ocean depths using exceptional breath-holding abilities. We'll explore ama divers' captivating world, rich history, rigorous training, and cultural legacy.


Japan's Ama Divers A Sacred Tradition

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.

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