In July 1954 Italian photographer Fosco MARAINI travelled together with a small film crew to the small Japanese island of Hekura Hegura-jima (舳倉島). The island is famous for female pearl divers (ama divers).
The first colour picture section is focused mainly on the daily life on the island, with distant views and general impressions. But MARAINI comes closer and closer with his camera, documenting the work of the (usually topless) female pearl divers at, around and under the water.