File:Danses_d’Okinawa_(musée_Guimet,_Paris)_(11152072573).jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Ryukyuans
Sign in to saveAlso known as Lewchewan, Uchinaanchu, Okinawans
The are a Japonic-speaking East Asian ethnic group indigenous to the Ryukyu Islands, which stretch from the island of Kyushu to the island of Taiwan. In Japan, most Ryukyuans live in the Okinawa Prefecture or Kagoshima Prefecture. They speak the Ryukyuan languages, one of the branches of the Japonic language family along with the Japanese language and its dialects.
Key facts
- Ethnic group.group
- Ryukyuans
- Ethnic group.image
- Danses d’Okinawa (musée Guimet, Paris) (11152072573).jpg
- Ethnic group.caption
- Ryukyuan dancers in ceremonial attire
- Ethnic group.pop1
- 1.4 million
- Ethnic group.pop2
- 118,773
- Ethnic group.pop3
- 70,000
- Ethnic group.pop4
- 45,000
- Ethnic group.pop5
- 12,000
- Ethnic group.region6
- Rest of mainland Japan
- Ethnic group.pop6
- 173,000
- Ethnic group.region7
- Outside of Japan
- Ethnic group.pop7
- 415,361
- Ethnic group.related
- Yamato, Yayoi, Jōmon, Ainu
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Image
- OKINAWAN GIRLS.jpg
Show 1 more fact
- Commons category
- Ryukyuan people
Sources (1)
via Wikidata · CC0
~50 min read
Article
26 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Origins
- Genetic studies
- Anthropological studies
- Challenging the notion of ethnic homogeneity in Japan
- History
- Early history
- Gusuku period
- Sanzan period
- Ryukyu Kingdom
- Meiji period
- WWII and post-war history
- Demography
- Culture
- Language
- Religion
- Cuisine
- Arts
- Notable Ryukyuans
- See also
- Notes
- References
- Citations
- Sources
- Further reading
- External links
The are a Japonic-speaking East Asian ethnic group indigenous to the Ryukyu Islands, which stretch from the island of Kyushu to the island of Taiwan. In Japan, most Ryukyuans live in the Okinawa Prefecture or Kagoshima Prefecture. They speak the Ryukyuan languages, one of the branches of the Japonic language family along with the Japanese language and its dialects.
The United Nations Human Rights Committee in 2008 recommended that Japan, "should expressly recognize the Ainu and Ryukyu/Okinawa as indigenous peoples in domestic legislation, adopt special measures to protect, preserve, and promote their cultural heritage and traditional way of life, and recognize their land rights." The Japanese government has not accepted this recommendation because recognizing, "the Ryukyuan as Indigenous Peoples [would require Japan] to adhere to international law, thus prohibiting military bases on [Ryukyuan] land."