[pt386]

In Japan, there are professional female divers called ama (meaning sea women) who would go deep into the sea and collect shellfish, abalone, seaweed, and whatnot for living.

Up to 1960’s, ama in certain regions would dive in incredibly skimpy outfits. It was because modern diving suits had not been introduced yet and standard clothing would be wet, not only hindering their underwater mobility but making them freezing cold when they are out of water. So wearing as little as they can was their solution.

Uniforms were varied by regions. Hegura island in particular deserves an honorable mention as its ama wore nothing other than tiny loinclothes (as seen in the pic 5-10), exposing their entire butts in addition to being topless. In terms of what people have to wear for their works, this might be the most revealing uniform in modern history.

Also, as you can see in the pic 5-6, guys who helped ama on the boat would be just normally dressed, rendering perfect CMNF situations. I
presume they were more or less nonchalant about their coworkers’ constant nudity, but I’d also like to think pretty and hot ones gave them (and neighbors and photographers) some serious boners.

Ama in general are dying breeds now, but more importantly every ama would cover up themselves by 1970’s following the introduction of modern diving suits and the influx of tourists who would make ama feel embarrassed and self-conscious by commenting on their nakedness.