Japan's traditional female pearl divers draw overseas tourists

Region wants to boost visitor numbers and keep centuries-old tradition alive

20191217 Ama

Ama are traditional freediving fisherwomen who collect and grill shellfish. © Kyodo

KEIICHI YAMAMOTO, Nikkei staff writer

TSU, Japan -- Central Japan’s female pearl divers, the ama, are famous within the country, and they are increasingly well known abroad. They are turning into a valuable draw for tourists, helping to pull some overseas visitors away from the more common destinations like Tokyo and Kyoto.

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