Okinawas

Okinawas refers to the people and culture of Okinawa, a group of islands in the East China Sea that constitute Okinawa Prefecture, the southernmost prefecture of Japan. The archipelago centers on Okinawa Island and includes dozens of smaller islands. The inhabitants are generally identified as Okinawans, descendants of the Ryukyuan people who formed the historic Ryukyu Kingdom, a maritime state with strong trade links to China, Korea, and Southeast Asia.

In 1879, the Ryukyu Kingdom was annexed by Japan and renamed Okinawa Prefecture. During World War II, the Battle of Okinawa in 1945 was one of the war’s bloodiest campaigns, and the islands were later administered by the United States until 1972, when sovereignty was restored to Japan.

Culturally, Okinawans maintain distinct traditions alongside national Japanese culture. The Ryukyuan languages, including Okinawan, are related to but separate from Japanese and many are endangered. Traditional music using the sanshin, performing arts such as eisa, and unique crafts remain important. The region’s subtropical climate supports tourism, agriculture (notably sugar cane and tropical fruits), and fishing. Historic sites such as Shuri Castle reflect the former Ryukyu Kingdom’s legacy.

Today, Okinawa has a significant presence of U.S. military bases, a source of economic activity as well as political contention. The population faces aging and outmigration, common to island communities. The term Okinawas is less common in standard usage; most references use Okinawans for the people or Okinawa for the place.