Toba's Ama, Woman of the Sea
Toba, lies on the upper edge of the Shima Peninsula in Mie prefecture, is home to the largest population of Ama professional female skin divers in Japan. Indeed, the word ama means “Woman of the Sea.”
The divers catch shellfish, abalones, and sometimes pearls, preserving a deep fishing tradition in Mie that dates back millennia. Ancient remains of abalone shells and fishing tools have been found in the Shirahama Ruins in Toba dating back some 3,000 years. Ama fishing has survived for centuries on the Shima Peninsula mostly because the Ama divers have protected the resources of their waters in a sustainable way, by limiting their fishing season and regulating the catch.
From April to July, the ama offer their catch to local shrines and the Ise Jingu Shrine in a ritual to pray for a good catch and safety at sea. Meet Japan’s female free divers at an Osatsu Kamado ama hut in Toba, and learn about the ancient and fascinating culture of this abundant coastal area.
The divers catch shellfish, abalones, and sometimes pearls, preserving a deep fishing tradition in Mie that dates back millennia. Ancient remains of abalone shells and fishing tools have been found in the Shirahama Ruins in Toba dating back some 3,000 years. Ama fishing has survived for centuries on the Shima Peninsula mostly because the Ama divers have protected the resources of their waters in a sustainable way, by limiting their fishing season and regulating the catch.
From April to July, the ama offer their catch to local shrines and the Ise Jingu Shrine in a ritual to pray for a good catch and safety at sea. Meet Japan’s female free divers at an Osatsu Kamado ama hut in Toba, and learn about the ancient and fascinating culture of this abundant coastal area.
