Nagoya is known for its rich history, distinctive cuisine, and vibrant city life. It is also the gateway to discovering some of Central Japan's most remarkable cultural experiences.
Just two hours from Nagoya Station, the coastline of Mie Prefecture is home to the Ama divers, Japan's legendary women of the sea. For more than 2,000 years, they have free-dived without scuba gear, harvesting abalone, shellfish, seaweed, and other seasonal treasures using skills passed down through generations.
This edition of SONO Asia Lens takes you beyond Nagoya to discover one of Japan's oldest living traditions along the beautiful coast of Ise-Shima.
The word Ama (海女) literally means
"women of the sea."
Ama are free divers who harvest seafood and marine plants entirely by hand. Without scuba gear or oxygen tanks, they descend 30 to 65 feet (10–20 meters) on a single breath, remaining underwater for up to two minutes.
Although a small number of men also practice Ama diving, women have long been the face of this centuries-old tradition. Every dive reflects generations of knowledge, patience, and respect for the sea
