Nansei

The Nansei, or Nansei-shotō (Southwestern Islands), is a chain of Japanese islands in the western Pacific stretching from Kyushu southward to Taiwan. It encompasses the Ryukyu Islands and several outlying archipelagos, forming a continuous maritime region of diverse landscapes, from limestone cliffs and mangrove-lined coasts to coral reefs. The chain lies largely within the subtropical climate zone and experiences frequent typhoons in late summer and autumn.

Administratively, most of the Nansei Islands are part of Japan. The Ryukyu Islands, including Okinawa Island and the Yaeyama and Miyako groups, are part of Okinawa Prefecture. The Amami Islands lie to the north in Kagoshima Prefecture. Some southern islets, such as the Daitō Islands, are also counted among the Nansei by geographers. The chain's northernmost extent reaches Yakushima, a part of Kagoshima.

Historically the region was the Ryukyu Kingdom (15th–19th centuries), a distinct polity with its own language and culture that maintained trade networks across East and Southeast Asia. Japan annexed the kingdom in 1879. After World War II, most of the Nansei were administered by the United States until reversion to Japan in 1972. The area is known for Ryukyuan languages, music, and crafts.

The archipelago supports diverse ecosystems, including subtropical forests, mangroves, and extensive coral reefs. Notable endemic species include the Amami rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi) on Amami Ōshima and the Iriomote cat (Prionailurus iriomotensis) on Iriomote Island. The region's reefs and islands host many endemic and endangered species, contributing to high biodiversity and several protected areas and World Heritage sites.

Conservation and tourism are important to the Nansei, with many areas protected as national parks and parts of the Ryukyuan UNESCO World Heritage designation. The islands attract visitors for their climate, biodiversity, beaches, and traditional Ryukyuan culture, while facing environmental pressures from development and climate change.