Hearing the voices of Ama female divers
Ama are female divers who go free-diving to catch shellfishes and seafoods like abalones, sea urchins, sea snails.without a breathing apparatus. The origin of ama dates back to 3000 years ago, which was recorded in the Chronicle of Japan.
They are still relying on the ancient methods of fishing until now without using modern technologies. This is to protect and appreciate the natural resources of their ocean.
It is said that ama divers are unique culture, which can be seen only in a part of Korea and in Japan. There are 2000 ama divers in Japan, and among them, half of divers are in the Shima peninsula of Mie prefecture.
Ama can dive into ocean for approximately 1 minute at one breath. They repeat this 20-30 times for one hour. Even 70 year old ladies, who feel difficulty in walking, still work for diving. The old lady said she found better in the sea rather than walking on the land.
Before the free-dive, they set fire in pray for their safety and to ward off evil spirit, even in the mid-summer. Mugwort of butterbur leaves are roasted and used as anti-fogging diving masks.
After 1-2 hours diving, they will get together to have snacks and chat. Although ama is lonely while diving alone in the sea, they always work in a group, so that all can keep eye on each other just in case of emergency. It is said that before, they sometimes witnessed sharks in the sea.
Recommended place to visit in Shima
Sea-Folk Museum in Toba
Founded in 1971, the Sea-Folk Museum preserves over six thousand exhibits about Toba’s ancient fishing traditions and antique fishing equipment.
Its architecture is also unique, and must-see destination, designed by a Japanese architect, Mr. Hiroshi Naito of Naito Architect & Associates. It was awarded several prizes, including Award of Architectural Institute of Japan by Architectural Institute of Japan.
Iwato-kan
It produces salt by using only seawater in the ancient method. Recycled wood from houses is used for firewood. Sea water is poured into a kiln and burned for 3 days until the salt is completely crystalized. You can see the process of making sea salt.
Tour to experience daily village life
If you wish to experience Japanese rural life. It is possible to customise off-the-beaten village tour based on your interests. Please note that these off-the-beaten tour villages are located far from cities, I would recommend staying one night in a village. Also, some experiences could be offered in the limited season. Please let me know, if you are interested any of these activities.
Example Theme:
- tea tour (harvesting and processing tea, tea house, matcha poder making, tea museum in Kyoto)
- traditional handicrafts (visit workshops, pottery making experience, kiln in hidden valley)
- culinary experience (food processing workshop such as tofu, soba, yuba, somen noodle, traditional knowledge of food preservation)
- fermented food products (learning how to make sake, shoyu, miso, amazake, pickle, nattou, umeboshi by yourself)
- plant and ethno-ecology (sansai wild plant harvesting and cooking)
- learning rural livelihood (charcoal making, weaving trees, paper making from mulberry plant, silk worm, visit to temple of plant medicine)
- temple stay (meditation, shojin ryori at mount koya)