Ama - the mysterious women of the sea in Japan

The Ama - who are likened to Japanese mermaids - can dive up to 10 meters deep, swim kilometers away from shore without a snorkel or flippers.... Many tourists believe that they can do this thanks to the privilege of mermaids.

Ama is a term used to describe women in Japan who work as free divers. This is a long-standing profession with a strong traditional identity. However, due to increasingly modern life, the number of mermaids - who have entered Japanese legend and are considered mysterious daughters of the sea - is gradually decreasing.

Kimiyo Hayashi sat quietly warming herself by a fire in a small hut in Ago Bay, Japan, warming herself by a salt lick (a place where wild animals come to lick salt from the salty soil). It was hot and humid outside, and she turned to talk softly to her niece Tomomi Nakanishi.

Ama - the mysterious daughters of the sea are often called by the dignified name "mermaids". Photo: Alamy.

As one of Japan's last female free divers,Hayashi and Nakanishi still cling tenaciously to the old ways of making a living. The floor where they sit is covered with ash-gray planks, the kettle has been boiled, and soot covers the ceiling. Their swimming gear is primitive too: masks and wet, worn-out swimsuits that drip seawater onto the ground.

“I’ve lived by the sea all my life, and I still feel the cold seeping into my bones. But I still love the tradition of warming up afterwards,” Hayashi said, looking out at the pincer-shaped strip of land before him.

At 61, Hayashia is still healthy and agile with bright eyes. Hayashia begins to tell the story of her life. Every morning at dawn, she would sit quietly preparing her equipment to begin her work. Some Ama would go diving topless, wearing only a loincloth and a tenugi (a traditional Japanese cloth). At 16, after waving goodbye to her mother and grandmother, two former Ama, Hayashi always wondered what attracted them out there in the vast ocean.

Ago Bay is located in Mie Prefecture. Photo: Alamy.

After 45 years, the Ama’s rituals with the sea have not changed. They don traditional white cloth clothes and plunge into the deep sea. Sometimes they swim a kilometer from shore and dive to depths of 10 meters to collect shellfish such as clams and seaweed.

Many people say that the reason why Ama can dive deep and far from shore without modern equipment such as tubes and propellers is because they are blessed with the grace of mermaids. However, their work also faces countless difficulties such as rough seas, bad weather and sharks. "Sharks do not respect mermaids," said one tourist humorously. Hayashi said that sharks are a real threat to Ama and over the years, she has lost many good friends to these animals.

Each Ama has his or her own secret to diving. The key to the job is not how long you can hold your breath, but how quickly you can catch sea creatures. In his heyday, Hayashi would return to shore with a wooden bucket full of abalone, sea urchins, snails, lobsters and octopus. The Ama also hunt for pearls. A good season can bring them 27 million yen (about 5.8 billion VND).

Typically, Ama are hereditary. Girls will follow in the footsteps of their mothers and grandmothers."No one does this job anymore. Our daughters don't want to follow in their mother's footsteps," Hayashi said.

Many people still practice this ancient profession, maintaining a long-standing tradition. However, the number has dropped sharply, from 8,000 in the post-World War II era to 2,000 today. The average age of these mermaids is 65, with the oldest being over 80.

In addition, the Ama also have to face the situation of falling seafood prices, or the government's marine protection policies, tightening exploitation and fishing.

However, Hayashi insists she will never quit her job. "I still have 20 more years of diving. As long as I am healthy and happy. I love my job."

When meeting these female divers, visitors have a common feeling that they are typical examples of time travel - a place that modern life in Japan has not yet reached. In the Ise-Shima region, Mie prefecture, visitors will have the opportunity to meet these female divers, who are likened to "mermaids". The name "mysterious daughters of the sea" was first mentioned in the oldest collection of Japanese poetry, from the 8th century. To the Japanese people, Ama is a legend.

Nowadays, the Ama do not only dive, they also open a service to welcome tourists to their traditional huts. Here, they serve seafood dishes just taken from the ocean, fresh and delicious, loved by many tourists.

Visitors are delighted to enjoy fresh seafood right at Ama's tents. Photo: Alamy.

According to VNE