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Shellfish Harvester

As a mountainous country with little arable land and thousands of miles of shoreline, Japan has long had a special relationship to the sea-- which makes March's tsunami all the more tragic. Going to the ocean and digging up clams and other shellfish is a popular traditional activity among Japanese families, especially in the spring. As with the tradition of having all elementary school students plant and harvest rice, this activity contributes to the strong bond Japanese people feel between themselves, their food, and the land. In this case, however, this man makes a living gathering shellfish and selling them to local markets and restaurants.

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Uploaded on June 8, 2009
Taken on June 8, 2009