Japanese mermaids

The work of the diver "ama" arose more than 2000 years ago. Up to now it has remained practically unchanged. Only special hooks for poddevaniya and separation of mollusks from the rock substrate are now not bone and wooden, but steel. All the rest, including clothes, and often her absence, is the same.

It happens that men are divers. In some areas of Japan, their share reaches 20-25%. But in the whole country, this share is very small. And since this circumstance lowers the bar of romantic ideas about this art, the male role in diving is tried not to notice. But we will be objective, and we will not hush up the role of men in this matter.

In 17 - 19 centuries, the "ama" fishery was very important for the Japanese economy. Despite isolation from the outside world, foreign trade had to be developed. The port of Nagasaki, open to foreigners, was actively used for export to China and other countries of agar produced from agar-algae. Algae in these times could only be obtained by female divers. In the middle of the 12th century, the harvesting of agaronics and the production of agar spread throughout Japan. Accordingly, the importance of the "ama" fishery was very great.

Why the work of “ama” has been preserved for centuries and millennia is difficult to explain. The next version looks pretty convincing. First, this type of fishery is clearly localized. It has developed and preserved where in the coastal, accessible to swimmers, zone there are sufficient stocks of traditional for fishing “ama” species mentioned above. The presence of a permanent object of labor creates the conditions for the permanent nature of labor.

About the fact that the "ama", disguised decades ago in diving suits, had undermined the reserves of those species of marine organisms that formed the basis of their existence, Japanese researchers do not recall. At the same time, it is known that at the end of the 19 century the reserves of agaric algae helidium were undermined because of the high demand for agar abroad and the desire to get high profits in a short time by Japanese divers hunters "ama" for algae production.

However, diving exists. Such a method of harvesting benthic marine organisms is (but in very small amounts) not only in Japan, but also in other countries. Including in Russia. In the Far East diving sea urchins are extracted in a diving way, which caviar is highly valued in the Japanese market. At the same time, various technical advances are used, greatly increasing human capabilities when working underwater and, accordingly, the effectiveness of the production of marine organisms. "Ama" "allow" itself in some cases only a "wet" suit for diving.

Methods of work "ama"

There are two most common types of "ama" fishery. The first one is called "funado", the second is "katido". The first means - people with a boat, the second - walkers (or infantrymen on the seabed). There is one more variety of snorkelling - "noriai", when the boats are grouped together.

At the first kind of fishing "ama" works in pair with the husband or the partner (томаи-сан). At the same time, the first is constantly on board the boat, controlling the situation and pulling the partner out of the water, which it is difficult to do on its own, as it carries the cargo on the body for a quick and easy dive (the dive in a number of cases can reach 20 meters). With a very brief rise to the surface, the "ama" inhales through slightly opened lips with a whistle (it's easier to overcome the difference in pressure in water and on the surface), which is what the people call the "coastal flute".

Sometimes a few "ama" hire a ship and a strong man who monitors the safety of fishing and helps in working for women diving. In this case, one load is used for all swimmers.

Particularly dangerous are the seabed areas with the remains of wrecks. Metal ledges can easily cut or cut the life line. Therefore, despite the accumulation of Abalon's desired molluscum in such areas, the "Ama" try to avoid such places.

Often "ama" wear white clothes, even if they use a "wet" suit. The white spot is clearly distinguishable for tomai-san under water, so it's easier to ensure the work of the divers and their safety.

In the second form of the fishery, the "Ama" groupers form a group and lead the game near the shore without the assistance of the vessel. This type of fishing is also called "okedo" - that is, the extraction of marine organisms using a wooden tub "ok", where the catch is formed. The tub also serves as a landmark on the surface of the water, with it also connects the "rope of life".

The duration of work in the water of divers changes depending on the temperature of the water. In winter, as a rule, the fishery is closed. In spring and autumn, women work in water 2 - 3 hours. In summer, the work time increases to 5 hours. Not even very experienced divers are able to do any more. Also, the duration of stay in the water depends on the age, the experience of "ama" and other factors.

Harmony with nature helps to overcome the exhaustion of hard work, the closest connection between the life of "am" and the marine environment. There are cases when "ama-san" gave birth to children immediately after work underwater, when they barely got ashore. It is clear that this was in the past and not from a good life. Molluscum abalone before the war did not bring as much income as during the years of rapid development of the Japanese economy, when the demand for delicately obtained marine organisms increased significantly, and the market price for them increased several times against the backdrop of the increased solvency of the population.

The art of ama is part of the Japanese tradition.

The first mention of Japanese dives for sea gifts is contained in ancient Chinese chronicles (in the Japanese sound of "Gishi Wadzin Dan") and an anthology of Japanese poetry of the 8 century "Man'yushu". These sources not only mention the existence of divers, but also give some information about the features of their life and appearance. The decoding of ancient texts shows that the whole body of the ancient "ama" was covered with tattoos. Tattoos were supposed to protect divers in the water from sharks and other dangerous inhabitants of the sea. During the work, the divers had to take off all the clothes that hid protective tattoos.

The custom of applying tattoos remained valid until recently, as well as the rule - to dive in the nude.

The number of "ama" is gradually decreasing. Over the last 20 years, the number of "ama" has decreased by half (Table.). This is due to a decrease in income of divers. Also, the average age of divers is constantly increasing. The habitat of hydrobionts, which are produced by "ama", is deteriorating. The amount of collection by the divers of the abalone - the main object of collection - decreased five-fold. To preserve the distinctive tradition, the authorities of the Mie Prefecture in 2013 developed a program to revitalize the life of coastal villages and increase the incomes of female divers.

The annual income of modern "am" is about 1,0 million yen (about 10 thousand dollars) per year. Only this money to live in modern Japan is almost impossible. To increase the incomes of the "ama", the program of revitalizing the life of the coast provides for the formation of fishing grounds, an increase in the abalone's reserves by settling larvae, and the introduction of technologies for processing little used and unused algae. Such support should stabilize the production as well as the traditional way of life of the "ama". Financing of these programs is provided by the state budget for the fishery industry in Japan. The budget is primarily aimed at improving the economic life of coastal townships. But in this case it is possible to speak with confidence and maintenance of traditions.

Table

Change in the number of "ama" after 1931 year

According to the Maritime Museum of Japan and the Japan Fisheries Department.

Virtually always the collection of sea products, divers are combined with agriculture, sometimes with the service sector (usually tourism). Depending on the natural conditions of a specific locality, the number of days given to the marine fishery varies greatly. So, in the vicinity of the Toba area, the number of days of sea fishing ranges from 10 to 110 days per year. In the vicinity of the town of Sima, the importance of marine fishing is higher and ranges from 40 to 286 days per year.

The threat to craft, which for millennia has turned into tradition and art, also creates a gradual aging of divers. The predominant age of most divers of the Mie prefecture is 70-80 years.

Japan and South Korea dispute the right to register with UNESCO the female species of the marine fishery "Ama"

The South Korean Agency for Cultural Values ​​has decided to apply to the UNESCO Commission to register the culture of the Hanju diver from Jeju Island as an intangible heritage of human culture. Registration of the culture of "henoe" in UNESCO, possibly, will take place in 2015 year.

Japanese relevant bodies also intend to apply for registration of their culture in UNESCO. The way of mining from the sea bottom of organisms by women-divers, turned into an original culture, exists only in Japan and the Republic of Korea.

According to the media of the Republic of Korea, on the island of Jeju, the number of divers during the period of maximum development of this type of fishery was 30000 people. Currently, their number does not exceed 4500 people.

In the Mie prefecture of Japan, more than half of all divers registered in the country are engaged in this type of fishing - about 1000 people. The city of Toba and the county of Sima in Mie prefecture, where the ama field is highly developed, starting from 2009, exchanges with craft friends from South Korea and the ama summit are held there annually. At the 2010 summit of the year, a joint decision was made by divers from Japan and the Republic of Korea to submit a single application for registration of this type of fishery to UNESCO. The reason for refusing a joint application to UNESCO in favor of separate national applications lies in the deterioration of the climate of political relations between the two countries. It is also associated with increased national ambitions in this regard.

Japanese-South Korean exchanges between the representatives of the "fishery-culture" "ama-henyo", as well as between the specialists-culturologists and historians of the two countries continue at the present time. Now it is perceived as something special. But before the Second World War, Korean "henoe" constantly came to the Japanese island of Shikoku to collect the agaric algae gelidium, which was normal. Also, "Ama" at the end of the 19 century traveled to the offshore industries on the Korean Peninsula. Earlier, Japanese and Korean entrepreneurs created brigades from hengyo, with whom they were sent to Japan and China. In pre-revolutionary times, such brigades appeared in the Russian Primorye, of course, only in the short summer months.

At the beginning of the 20 century, in Korea, the "Ama" from Mie prefecture was sent, as a rule, from March to September. They crossed on a small wooden ship with the help of oars and sails. The entire crew, including the "ama" and assistants, consisted of 15 people. For the time of these "expeditions" the ship became the home of all. The sail and the mast turned into a roof over a boat in which everyone slept.

The lifestyle, philosophy and worldview of the "ama" are closely related to the sea. This connection is inseparable and harmonious. "Ama" is Japanese mermaids, but not fabulous, but real ones.

The number of "ama" is steadily declining. The fault is not only economic conditions. The main thing is that the natural environment of their habitat is gradually losing, with which they are inextricably linked. It is not only the mountains of plastic debris that pollute the coastal zone, but also the beaches taken away to the concrete, accessible to idle tourists and onlookers. However, the unequal struggle to preserve the original fishery with 2000-year history continues.