There are also male divers called "ama" (written with different kanji characters), but in Toba and Shima, the overwhelming majority are women. Why is this? Mai Ishihara, secretary-general of the ...

Join the extraordinary journey of Japan’s traditional pearl divers through the lens of freediving. This video captures the age-old practice, showcasing the skill, tradition, and resilience of the ...

The Ama divers of Japan, primarily in Toba and Shima ... abalone shells speak to a long-standing relationship between these women and the sea. Even today, the ama divers don’t use the modern ...

Japan's legendary Ama free-diving women still plumb the waters around Sugashima Island in search of abalone, turban shell and Ise spiny lobster. We glimpse the island through this extraordinary ...

KUJI, Iwate Prefecture--“Ama” divers are back in business after a ... as a locale in “Ama-chan,” a serial drama aired by Japan Broadcasting Corp. (NHK). With a rerun currently airing ...