What is pearl diving japan?

Pearl diving was popular in Japan from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s. The industry reached its peak in the 1930s, with over 100,000 pearl divers in Japan. The majority of pearl divers were women from poor fishing villages who were seeking a better life for themselves and their families. They would dive for hours at a time, often in cold and dangerous waters, to collect oysters and find pearls.

The pearl diving industry declined after World War II due to the availability of cheaper cultured pearls and the increasing use of diving equipment. Today, pearl diving is still practiced in Japan, but on a much smaller scale and mainly for tourism purposes.

The Ama divers, who are mostly women, are famous for their traditional method of diving without any equipment other than a mask, fins, and a loincloth. They are known for their incredible free-diving ability, as they can hold their breath for up to two minutes and dive down to depths of 30 meters (100 feet) to collect shellfish and other sea creatures.

The history and culture of pearl diving in Japan are still celebrated through festivals and museums, showcasing the importance of this once-thriving industry.