The first thing I noticed about them as they approached was their skin. Smooth and pale like expensive stationary. They were wearing wetsuits and a traditional bonnet adorned with symbols. I would find out later that symbols, something similar to a hashtag but with more lines and a star, were amulets to help protect them and bring them home during their dive. The tradition of ama diving has been going on for thousands of years. These women, these mermaids, these indigienous protectors of nature, dive down to the ocean floor on a single breath and collect ingredients, like abalone, sea urchin, sea cucumbers to take back their amagoya and cook over a charcoal grill. I spent a day with them, went on the boat with them as they dove in near freezing waters, cooked with them and ate their food and basked in their kindness and ancient energy. More about Ise-Shima in the link up top. @nationalpark_japan #amadivers #ama #amagoya #iseshima #mieprefecture #japan #indigenous #mermaids #f52grams #huffposttaste #buzzfeast #foodandwine #thekitchn #eater #bbcgoodfood #eatmunchies #eattheworld #marthafood #filipina #browngirltravels #bombesquad @cherrybombe @thefeedfeed.travels #tastecooking #iamatraveler #feedfeedtravels #traveldeeper #womenwhotravel (at Toba, Mie) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8w_kl_hIoY/?igshid=1a4qy210hiju4