Braving the Sea: the amasan (women divers) of the Yahataura fishing community Iki Island Nagasaki prefecture Japan

Lim Cristina P., . and Ito Yasuhiro, . and Matsuda Yoshiaki, . Braving the Sea: the amasan (women divers) of the Yahataura fishing community Iki Island Nagasaki prefecture Japan. pp. 29-45. ISSN 0116-6514

Ama or amasan which literally means sea person� are women and men divers who use rapid diving techniques without using scuba gear or compressed air. Honed by years of experience the ama are professional divers whose diving prowess depends largely on their lung capacity diving speed resistance to cold intuition for finding their target organisms and determination to succeed. Ama dive for seaweed shellfish sea urchin lobster sea cucumber oyster octopus and abalone this last being the most preferred catch. Despite their significant contribution to the fishing industry the ama remain invisible and marginalised. Using participant observation focus group discussion and key informant interviews the present study provides a picture of the women ama in the fishing village of Yahataura Iki Island Nagasaki Prefecture Japan. Female divers access to and control over resources activities and time allocation and access to administrative decision-making processes were examined in relation to that of male fishers. The results of the study substantiate the important role of women in the fishing communities and affirm the long standing social problem of their low status in society especially compared to that of men. Some ways to improve their social standing in the community are suggested.

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Abstract

Ama or amasan which literally means sea person� are women and men divers who use rapid diving techniques without using scuba gear or compressed air. Honed by years of experience the ama are professional divers whose diving prowess depends largely on their lung capacity diving speed resistance to cold intuition for finding their target organisms and determination to succeed. Ama dive for seaweed shellfish sea urchin lobster sea cucumber oyster octopus and abalone this last being the most preferred catch. Despite their significant contribution to the fishing industry the ama remain invisible and marginalised. Using participant observation focus group discussion and key informant interviews the present study provides a picture of the women ama in the fishing village of Yahataura Iki Island Nagasaki Prefecture Japan. Female divers access to and control over resources activities and time allocation and access to administrative decision-making processes were examined in relation to that of male fishers. The results of the study substantiate the important role of women in the fishing communities and affirm the long standing social problem of their low status in society especially compared to that of men. Some ways to improve their social standing in the community are suggested.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	Seafoods
AGROVOC Term:	Gender analysis
AGROVOC Term:	womens participation
AGROVOC Term:	Fisheries
AGROVOC Term:	Employment
AGROVOC Term:	Fish production
AGROVOC Term:	Fish farming
AGROVOC Term:	Fishery data
AGROVOC Term:	commissions
AGROVOC Term:	Catches
Depositing User:	Ms. Suzila Mohamad Kasim
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 06:28
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/23738

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