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The Woman Diver: Discovering Deep East Asian ValuesOne of the oldest professions is that of the diver for pearls or humbler offerings of the sea. Akiko Takemoto and Steve McCarty have translated a heart-rending story from various Japanese versions, as a prehistoric legend moved from oral to written traditions over millennia. To help readers ponder its significance, brief discussion points for college or secondary school classes follow the story.This podcast renders the ancient folktale "Ama" into English, investigates its origins, and attempts to interpret its timeless significance. From a prehistoric oral tradition, it evolved into the temple chronicle of Shidoji in Kagawa Prefecture and a Noh play with its setting there. In modern times the ama are women who dive for pearls and the like, but from the earliest times, men and women dove for seaweed, fish, and so forth. The story thus becomes "The Woman Diver" with the division of labor, whereas the title was originally or simply "The Diver," who was in any case a woman. The following translation is based on the Noh script, Kagawa folktales, and legends, but the central motifs remain perennially the same: the woman makes the ultimate sacrifice for her husband, to raise the future status of her son.READ the TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://eklavyaparv.com/edusomedia/japancasting-podcast/545-japancasting-the-woman-diver-ama-folktaleRead more on Academia