The Sea Hunter of Yaeyama: Uminchu Saburō

The Yaeyama Islands are home to large numbers of green sea turtles, which are frequently spotted by divers while fishing. (© Nishino Yoshinori)

Uminchu Saburō searching for a good place to dive. He uses a technique known as yamatate to locate his position using a number of landmarks on shore. (© Nishino Yoshinori)

Fishing with a 5-meter spear known as a naga-īgun, one of the traditional fishing implements of Ishigaki and Miyako. (© Nishino Yoshinori)

Spearing a Pacific steephead parrotfish with a naga-īgun. Since the spearhead has no barb, the diver must thrust the point deep into the fish. (© Nishino Yoshinori)

Spearing a humphead wrasse, a fish that is difficult to approach even when being extremely stealthy. It is an important commercial fish in Okinawa. (© Nishino Yoshinori)

Spearing fish at daybreak. At this time of day the water is still only dimly lit as the sunlight reflects off the ocean surface. (© Nishino Yoshinori)

A reef shark attracted by the smell of the blood of a speared fish. Sharks and many other dangerous predators frequent the waters used by divers. (© Nishino Yoshinori)

Surrounded by yellow and blueback fusilier, a type of double-lined fusilier, at a depth of 30 meters. (© Nishino Yoshinori)

The waters near Naka-no-Uganjima. There are many game fish here due to the strong currents and complex sea floor topography. (© Nishino Yoshinori)

An undersea cave in the waters nears Naka-no-Uganjima. Large fish in the grouper family inhabit the deeper parts of the cave. (© Nishino Yoshinori)

Uminchu uses his swim fins like pectoral fins to make fine adjustments to his movements in order to stealthily approach fish. (© Nishino Yoshinori)

When pursuing fast fish, Uminchu uses his fins like the tail fins of a fish to give him speed. (© Nishino Yoshinori)

Grappling with a 45-kilogram dogtooth tuna. A fish this size has the strength to drag an adult human to the sea floor. (© Nishino Yoshinori)

Catching a dogtooth tuna. As these fish inhabit the deeper parts of the ocean, divers use scuba gear or surface-supplied air. (© Nishino Yoshinori)

Large irabuchā strung together on a line. The fish shown here are an hour’s catch. (© Nishino Yoshinori)

On the way back after fishing. Uminchu considers the coral reefs around the Yaeyama Islands and the open sea beyond to be his “workplace.” (© Nishino Yoshinori)