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Ama (diving)

January 19, 2023

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.

An ama diver.

Terminology

There are several sea occupations that are pronounced "ama" and several words that refer to sea occupation.

While one definition of ama specifically refers to divers, another definition refers to fisherpersons in general.

History

Japanese tradition holds that the practice of ama may be 2,000 years old.[2]

 
Pearl divers in white uniforms, 1921

Records of female pearl divers, or ama, date back as early as AD 927 in Japan's Heian period. Early ama were known to dive for seafood and were honored with the task of retrieving abalone for shrines and imperial emperors. Ama traditionally wear white, as the colour represents purity and also to possibly ward off sharks. Traditionally and even as recently as the 1960s, ama dived wearing only a loincloth, but in the 20th century, the divers adopted an all-white sheer diving uniform in order to be more presentable while diving.[3][4] Even in modern times, ama dive without scuba gear or air tanks, making them a traditional sort of free-diver.

Pearl diving ama were considered rare in the early years of diving. However, Mikimoto Kōkichi's discovery and production of the cultured pearl in 1893 produced a great demand for ama. He established the Mikimoto Pearl Island in Toba and used the ama's findings to grow his business internationally.[5] Nowadays, the pearl-diving ama are viewed as a tourist attraction at Mikimoto Pearl Island.[6] The number of ama continue to dwindle as this ancient technique becomes less and less practiced, due to disinterest in the new generation of women and the dwindling demand for their activity. In the 1940s, 6,000 ama were reported active along the coasts of Japan, while today ama practice at numbers more along the scale of 60 or 70 divers in a generation.

Activities

Women began diving as ama as early as 12 and 13 years old, taught by elder ama. Despite their early start, divers are known to be active well into their 70s and are rumored to live longer due to their diving training and discipline.[citation needed] In Japan, women were considered to be superior divers due to the distribution of their fat and their ability to hold their breath.[6] The garments of the ama have changed throughout time, from the original loincloth to the white sheer garbs and eventually to the modern diving wetsuit.

 
Pearl diver with headscarf, 1935

The world of the ama is one marked by duty and superstition. One traditional article of clothing that has stood the test of time is their headscarves. The headscarves are adorned with symbols such as the seiman and the douman,[clarification needed] which have the function of bringing luck to the diver and warding off evil. The ama are also known to create small shrines near their diving location where they will visit after diving in order to thank the gods for their safe return.[4]

The ama were expected to endure harsh conditions while diving, such as freezing temperatures and great pressures from the depths of the sea. Through the practice, many ama were noted to lose weight during the months of diving seasons. Ama practiced a breathing technique in which the divers would release air in a long whistle once they resurfaced from a dive. This whistling became a defining characteristic of the ama, as this technique is unique to them.[4]

In culture

See also

  • Haenyeo – Female occupational divers in the Korean province of Jeju
  • Skandalopetra diving – Freediving using a stone weight at the end of a rope to the surface

References

  1. ^ "海女漁業文化-海女漁業の振興、海女文化の保存・継承-" [Promoting and Preserving the Heritage of Ama Divers' Fishing Culture]. Toba City (in Japanese). Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  2. ^ Rahn, H.; Yokoyama, T. (1965). . United States: National Academy of Sciences – National Research Council. p. 369. ISBN 0-309-01341-0. Archived from the original on 2010-12-29. Retrieved 2008-04-25.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ Gakuran, Michael (5 November 2013). "Ama – The Pearl Diving Mermaids of Japan (Warning: Nudity)". Gakuranman.
  4. ^ a b c Wallace, Sue (July 2010). "Legends of the Deep: Japan". Sun Herald.
  5. ^ TV, Tern. "Japan's last female 'Ama' pearl-divers". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
  6. ^ a b McCurry, Justin (24 August 2006). "Ancient art of pearl diving breathes its last: Japanese women who mine seabed one lungful of air at a time are last of their kind". The Guardian. Retrieved April 20, 2019.

Further reading

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ama divers.
  • English: United Nations University (2009) digital video "Where the sea whistle echoes": Ama, legendary women divers of Japan facing climate change and an uncertain future Accessed 1 December 2009
  • in Japanese
  • [Usurped!] at the Rubicon Foundation

January 19, 2023
diving, 海女, women, japanese, divers, famous, collecting, pearls, though, traditionally, their, main, catch, seafood, vast, majority, women, diver, contents, terminology, history, activities, culture, also, references, further, reading, external, linksterminolo. 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 An ama diver Contents 1 Terminology 2 History 3 Activities 4 In culture 5 See also 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksTerminology EditThere are several sea occupations that are pronounced ama and several words that refer to sea occupation ama 海女 a female sea diving fisherperson ama 海士 a male sea diving fisherperson ama 海人 kaijin 海人 a sea diving fisherperson of either gender uminchu 海人 a sea fisherperson of either gender in OkinawanWhile one definition of ama specifically refers to divers another definition refers to fisherpersons in general History EditJapanese tradition holds that the practice of ama may be 2 000 years old 2 Pearl divers in white uniforms 1921 Records of female pearl divers or ama date back as early as AD 927 in Japan s Heian period Early ama were known to dive for seafood and were honored with the task of retrieving abalone for shrines and imperial emperors Ama traditionally wear white as the colour represents purity and also to possibly ward off sharks Traditionally and even as recently as the 1960s ama dived wearing only a loincloth but in the 20th century the divers adopted an all white sheer diving uniform in order to be more presentable while diving 3 4 Even in modern times ama dive without scuba gear or air tanks making them a traditional sort of free diver Pearl diving ama were considered rare in the early years of diving However Mikimoto Kōkichi s discovery and production of the cultured pearl in 1893 produced a great demand for ama He established the Mikimoto Pearl Island in Toba and used the ama s findings to grow his business internationally 5 Nowadays the pearl diving ama are viewed as a tourist attraction at Mikimoto Pearl Island 6 The number of ama continue to dwindle as this ancient technique becomes less and less practiced due to disinterest in the new generation of women and the dwindling demand for their activity In the 1940s 6 000 ama were reported active along the coasts of Japan while today ama practice at numbers more along the scale of 60 or 70 divers in a generation Activities EditWomen began diving as ama as early as 12 and 13 years old taught by elder ama Despite their early start divers are known to be active well into their 70s and are rumored to live longer due to their diving training and discipline citation needed In Japan women were considered to be superior divers due to the distribution of their fat and their ability to hold their breath 6 The garments of the ama have changed throughout time from the original loincloth to the white sheer garbs and eventually to the modern diving wetsuit Pearl diver with headscarf 1935 The world of the ama is one marked by duty and superstition One traditional article of clothing that has stood the test of time is their headscarves The headscarves are adorned with symbols such as the seiman and the douman clarification needed which have the function of bringing luck to the diver and warding off evil The ama are also known to create small shrines near their diving location where they will visit after diving in order to thank the gods for their safe return 4 The ama were expected to endure harsh conditions while diving such as freezing temperatures and great pressures from the depths of the sea Through the practice many ama were noted to lose weight during the months of diving seasons Ama practiced a breathing technique in which the divers would release air in a long whistle once they resurfaced from a dive This whistling became a defining characteristic of the ama as this technique is unique to them 4 In culture EditJames Bond travels to Japan in the novel You Only Live Twice He meets and becomes involved with ama Kissy Suzuki The character was also portrayed in the film version The NHK morning television drama Amachan centers on a high school girl on the Tohoku region who initially sets out to become an ama diver The Dream of the Fisherman s Wife an 1814 woodblock print by Japanese artist Hokusai depicts a young ama diver entwined sexually with a pair of octopuses Ama Girls a 1958 documentary film winner of the Academy Award for Documentary Short Subject Amanchu is a Japanese manga series later adapted into an anime Its name is a longer version of the word ama and its subject matter involves female divers Ama San an award winning 2016 documentary film by Portuguese director Claudia Varejao that follows the daily life of three Japanese women who have been diving together for 30 years in a small fishing village on the Shima Peninsula See also EditHaenyeo Female occupational divers in the Korean province of Jeju Skandalopetra diving Freediving using a stone weight at the end of a rope to the surfaceReferences Edit 海女漁業文化 海女漁業の振興 海女文化の保存 継承 Promoting and Preserving the Heritage of Ama Divers Fishing Culture Toba City in Japanese Retrieved 25 November 2021 Rahn H Yokoyama T 1965 Physiology of Breath Hold Diving and the Ama of Japan United States National Academy of Sciences National Research Council p 369 ISBN 0 309 01341 0 Archived from the original on 2010 12 29 Retrieved 2008 04 25 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint unfit URL link Gakuran Michael 5 November 2013 Ama The Pearl Diving Mermaids of Japan Warning Nudity Gakuranman a b c Wallace Sue July 2010 Legends of the Deep Japan Sun Herald TV Tern Japan s last female Ama pearl divers www bbc com Retrieved 2020 03 01 a b McCurry Justin 24 August 2006 Ancient art of pearl diving breathes its last Japanese women who mine seabed one lungful of air at a time are last of their kind The Guardian Retrieved April 20 2019 Further reading EditMaraini Fosco 1962 Hekura The Diving Girls Island English edition translated from Italian London Hamish Hamilton Martinez D P 2004 Identity and Ritual in a Japanese Village University of Hawaii Press ISBN 978 0 8248 2817 2 Mishima Yukio 1994 The Sound of Waves Vintage ISBN 978 0 679 75268 4External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ama divers English United Nations University 2009 digital video Where the sea whistle echoes Ama legendary women divers of Japan facing climate change and an uncertain future Accessed 1 December 2009 Ama Cultural Village in Japanese Ama diver physiology articles Usurped at the Rubicon Foundation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ama diving amp oldid 1124334352, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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