Ryukyu

Ryukyu refers to the Ryukyu Islands, a chain of small to mid-sized islands in the western Pacific Ocean. Stretching from the southern tip of Kyushu to Taiwan, the archipelago forms part of Japan as Okinawa Prefecture and includes the main inhabited islands of Okinawa Hontō, Amami Ōshima, Miyako, and Yaeyama, as well as Yonaguni. The region lies in a subtropical climate and is known for coral reefs, diverse ecosystems, and a history of extensive maritime contact across East and Southeast Asia.

Historically, the Ryukyu Kingdom emerged in the 15th century and established a centralized court that maintained tributary relations with China while engaging in independent trade with Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, and beyond. In 1879 the kingdom was abolished and the islands were incorporated into Japan as Okinawa Prefecture. The islands were a major theater of fighting in World War II, most notably the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. After the war, they were administered by the United States as the Ryukyu Islands until their reversion to Japan in 1972. The U.S. military presence remains significant in the region.

Ryukyuan languages form a distinct branch of the Japonic language family, including Okinawan, Kunigami, Miyako, Yaeyama, and Yonaguni. They are mostly endangered and are increasingly supplemented by Japanese. Ryukyuan culture reflects a blend of indigenous traditions with Chinese, Southeast Asian, and Japanese influences, evident in music, dance (for example eisa), crafts such as lacquerware and pottery, and religious practices centered on local shrines and sacred sites.