It may not be long before we cease to see Japan's traditional female free divers, known as Ama, in the flesh. In Toba city, Ama forage for seafood like abalone, sea urchin and lobster, but their ...

Yoshino Uemura came late to the world of female “ama” divers, taking the plunge in her 40s. But now, over two decades later, she feels there is no time to lose if her chosen profession is to survive ...

In a coastal hut in Mie Prefecture, a charcoal fire burns at the center as ama — "sea woman" in Japanese, who make a living by free-diving for seafood — warm their hands, or grill fresh catch for ...

Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. The elderly women sit in a semicircle by a smouldering fire, warming up after diving for shellfish delicacies in the cool waters off the ...

Resistance to the mascot started to stir up this August when more than 100 ama divers demanded that the mascot be revoked. “Ama in our city are all risking their lives to dive. In the past, some have ...

Ama simply means woman of the sea and refers to these Japanese women, who practice free diving. A job traditionally reserved for women, as it did not require them to go to sea in a boat like the ...

In an age where modernity often overshadows ancient traditions, a few communities continue to live by age-old principles, preserving their way of lifestyle against the tides of change. Among them are ...

As far back as 2,000 years ago, “ama” divers in Japan have free dove for pearls and seafood like abalone in the depths of Tokyo (Edo) Bay. Primarily women, the highly skilled swimmers foraged for the ...

Free divers looking for ocean treasures could be gaining more than pearls and seashells. A study by a University of Texas professor shows their daily routine might help prevent stiffening of the ...