The Ryukyuan people of Japan Options

[bubbles20]

since there was an Ainu thread, i decided to post this one (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_smile.gif)

Ryukyuans (now sometimes called Okinawans

Ryukyuan ethnic identity
The culture of Ryukyuans, though closely related to Japanese culture, is nonetheless distinctive in that it historically received much more influence from China and has separate political and religious traditions. Despite the lack of consensus amongst the Ryukyuans, they are in fact conscious of their ethnic identity as Uchinanchu (people of Uchinau, the Ryukyu name for Okinawa), as opposed to Yamatunchus (mainland Japanese people).

History
The Ryukyuan islands were unified by the Ryukyuan Kingdom in the 12th century. The islands paid tribute to the Ming Dynasty, and then the Qing Dynasty. In the early 17th century, however, the kingdom was conquered by Satsuma-han of Kyushu. Satsuma kept the kingdom nominally alive because of benefit from trade with China, although the Amami Archipelago came under the full control of Satsuma. During the Meiji period, the kingdom was formally abolished and Okinawa prefecture was established. After World War II, the Ryukyus were occupied by the U.S. In 1972, the Ryukyus were returned to Japan, but social and political conflict persist concerning the perceived ongoing discrimination by mainland Japanese people and conflict over U.S. military presence.

First Documentation and Origins of Ryukyuan People
Chinese historical writings first mentioned the Ryukyus during the 6th-7th centuries (the Sui Dynasty). The Ryukyu Islands were inhabited early in historical times, perhaps by sea-faring Austronesian peoples whose horticulture and navigation technologies spread from what is now Southeastern coast of China to Taiwan, the Japanese islands, the Philippines, the Malayo-Indonesian islands, Polynesia, Melanesia and Madagascar.

The very kinship between the Ryukyuan languages and the Japanese language suggests their common origin in immigrants from eastern China in later times than the Austronesians, most likely the 4th century BC founders of the Yayoi rice-cultivating culture or the 4th century AD founders of Kofun era horse-riding conquerors of Japan from the Korean kingdom of Baekje, or Kudara.

Early history
The original source of the modern-day Ryukyuan people is disputed. Evidence confirms that the islands were never part of formal Japanese territory until their annexation in 1872.

The earliest inhabitants were likely descended from crossovers via a prehistoric land bridge from modern-day China, with a later mixture of Malays, Micronesians, and Japanese. Others, however, basing their claims mostly on evidence from studies of physical anthropology, and more recently also genetics, take the view that the modern Ryukyuans are the most pure descendants of the prehistoric inhabitants of the Japanese islands (Japanese: Jōmon-jin 縄文人 "People of the Jōmon Era"). Scientists of this persuasion explain that the Mainland Japanese are rather a complex mix of the prehistoric Japanese aborigines with immigrants who originated in the ancestral populations of various continental Asian peoples, especially those who came from what are now Korea, Siberia and China.

Early Chinese visitors noted the hospitality of the islanders, as well as the sharp economic divisions between the small upper class and the impoverished masses. After the European explorers of the 19th century, they entertained the Dutch, the Portuguese, the English, and others, who always noted the hospitality of the natives.

The dominant economy has historically been the farming of sugar cane (uuji), and later on, the sweet potato. Other farmed items include guava, banana, papaya, and tobacco.

In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, Okinawans traded from Java to Japan, to China and Korea. This led to an increased level of prosperity for the kingdom.

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[lotuswarp]

I love the Ryukyuan/Okinawan people! Did some research in Okinawa on the civilians during the Battle of Okinawa in WWII. It was a tragic event that left 150,000 Okinawan casualties. Both Japanese soldiers and American soldiers alike caused the demise of these peaceful and friendly people. They're homes and daily lives were invaded and taken away from them all because Okinawa was a strategic location for war. The Okinawa of today is quite Americanized because of the military influence. In fact, Okinawa has the largest American military base outside of the US. From what I got from being there it seems that the Okinawan people have mixed feelings about military influence in the islands. They are concerned about losing their culture to these outside influences. They are especially concerned about the safety of their kids. Yet on the otherhand, the military provides them a means of making a living through jobs, etc. Despite these obstacles however, they're still peaceful and friendly people. It's too bad how the Okinawans are even discriminated by mainland Japan.

[PervertBurger]

They only get discriminated on because of peole like lotus warp who talk too much.

[Digital Insanity]

It's too bad how the Okinawans are even discriminated by mainland Japan.

Wow, I just can't help but believe that the

WARA WARA NIHONJIN

mentality that the main island has (courtesy of Shintaro Ishihara and the LDP) even excluded Okinawans, but WTF? I thought Okinawans are Japanese citizens themselves...

[Mightycandy]

Wow, I just can't help but believe that the mentality that the main island has (courtesy of Shintaro Ishihara and the LDP) even excluded Okinawans, but WTF? I thought Okinawans are Japanese citizens themselves...

yup the mainland Japanese have complexes. (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/sure.gif)

[Takashi]

I thought Okinawans are Japanese citizens themselves...

They are but a lot of Okinawans will say they're Okinawan as opposed to just Japanese, its stupid (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_rolleyes.gif)

[bubbles20]

did alot of mainland japanese people settle in okinawa as well? cos there seems to be alot of mixing judging from how alot of them look like any ordinary japanese

[Takashi]

did alot of mainland japanese people settle in okinawa as well? cos there seems to be alot of mixing judging from how alot of them look like any ordinary japanese

Aye, there are okinawans that dont look very japanese though, reiko is a prime example.........lol shes gonna rant at me if she reads this (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/embarassedlaugh.gif)

[bubbles20]

Aye, there are okinawans that dont look very japanese though, reiko is a prime example.........lol shes gonna rant at me if she reads this (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/embarassedlaugh.gif)

whos reiko? (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/confused.gif)

[Takashi]

whos reiko? (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/confused.gif)

af member

[bubbles20]

af member

is she full okinawan? (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/eek.gif)

[Takashi]

is she full okinawan? (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/eek.gif)

think so

[bubbles20]

are you okinawan? (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/eek.gif)

[juwanFromTaiwan]

are you okinawan? (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/eek.gif)

Na Takashi is Korean/Japanese.. he just anotha Han derived Nigga (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/embarassedlaugh.gif) 2 JK.. (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_redface.gif)

[Takashi]

are you okinawan? (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/eek.gif)

Japanese-Korean
My mother was born in Tokyo (outskirts actually) but shes half Okinawan.

This post has been edited by Takashi: Mar 25 2006, 07:34 AM

[bubbles20]

Japanese-Korean
My mother was born in Tokyo (outskirts actually) but shes half Okinawan.

so you're 1/4 (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/eek.gif)

[Takashi]

so you're 1/4 (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/eek.gif)

1/4 doesnt really count though does it (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_rolleyes.gif)
whats with the surprised face?

[bubbles20]

^ yeah not really

just never know of any okinawans (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/eek.gif)

does your mother look okinawan?

[Takashi]

^ yeah not really

just never know of any okinawans (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/eek.gif)

does your mother look okinawan?

(IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_confused.gif) Okinawans dont always look alike

[Adee]

So Reiko is Okinawan? No wonder she kinda look SE asian.