Japan’s Last “Ama” - The Female Fishers Who Free-Dive For Seafood (HBO)

The legendary “ama,” the sea-women of Japan, make their money dive-fishing along the coasts — without the help of a breathing apparatus. They are part of a tradition that stretches back thousands of years to Japan’s hunter-gather origins. With few options to make a living back then, women learned to dive for abalone, sea cucumber, and other delicacies to sell at markets. The ama plunge as deep as 60 feet in freezing water, with no oxygen tanks, using techniques passed from generation to generation. Wome