Japanese Symbol for
海umi
ocean · sea · vast
Readings
Meaning
Ocean, sea. Japan is an island nation surrounded by ocean — the sea is in the DNA of its culture, food, and identity. 海 also means "vast" or "wide-open" in a figurative sense.
Example words
海外
kaigai
overseas, abroad (beyond the sea)
海鮮
kaisen
seafood (sea freshness)
海岸
kaigan
coast, seashore
日本海
Nihonkai
Sea of Japan
海女
ama
female free diver (sea woman)
海幸
umisachi
bounty of the sea (seafood gifts)
海外 (kaigai — overseas) literally means "beyond the sea" — a reminder that for Japan, the world begins where the ocean ends. 海女 (ama — sea women) are Japan's traditional female free-divers who harvest pearls, abalone, and seaweed — a practice stretching back 2,000 years, still practiced in Ise and Mie prefectures.
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