The Ryukyu Islands (琉球諸島, Ryūkyū-shotō?), also known as the Nansei Islands (南西諸島, Nansei-shotō?, literally Southwest Islands),[1] is a chain of islands Japan has 6,852 islands in total as of 1988, of which 426 are inhabited. This figure may include disputed areas and tidal islands and artificial islands, but all islands are at least 0.1 square kilometres in size in the western Pacific The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east, on the eastern limit of the East China Sea The East China Sea is bounded on the East by the Kyūshū and Ryukyu Islands, on the South by Taiwan, and on the West by mainland China. It is connected with the South China Sea by the Taiwan Strait and with the Sea of Japan by the Korea Strait; it opens in the North to the Yellow Sea and to the southwest of the island of Kyūshū Kyūshū or Kyushu is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include Kyūkoku (九国 Nine States), Chinzei (鎮西 West of the Pacified Area), and Tsukushi-no-shima (筑紫島 Island of Tsukushi). The historical regional name Saikaidō (西海道 West Sea Circuit) referred to in Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south. The characters that make up Japan's name mean "sun-origin", which is why Japan is. From about 1829 until the mid 20th century, they were alternately called Luchu, Loochoo, or Lewchew, akin to the Mandarin pronunciation Liuqiu Liuqiu or Lewchew was the name given by the Chinese to islands in the East China Sea and nearby waters, sometimes in mythical or legendary contexts. The name is currently used for the Ryukyu Islands, which used to be a China tributary state with local sovereignty. They stretch southwest from the Japanese island of Kyūshū Kyūshū or Kyushu is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include Kyūkoku (九国 Nine States), Chinzei (鎮西 West of the Pacified Area), and Tsukushi-no-shima (筑紫島 Island of Tsukushi). The historical regional name Saikaidō (西海道 West Sea Circuit) referred to to within 120 kilometres (75 mi) of the island of Taiwan Taiwan, also known as Formosa , is an island situated in East Asia in the Western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. It has comprised most (99%) of the territory of the Republic of China (ROC) since the 1950s. The term "Taiwan" has also become a commonly used alternative name both domestically and.
The islands are administratively divided into the Satsunan Islands Japan has 6,852 islands in total as of 1988, of which 426 are inhabited. This figure may include disputed areas and tidal islands and artificial islands, but all islands are at least 0.1 square kilometres in size to the north, belonging to Kagoshima Prefecture Kagoshima Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū. The capital is the city of Kagoshima, and Ryūkyū Shotō Okinawa Prefecture is one of Japan's southern prefectures, and consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over 1,000 km long, which extends southwest from Kyūshū (the southwesternmost of Japan's main four islands) to Taiwan. Okinawa's capital, Naha, is located in the southern part of the largest and most populous island, Okinawa to the south, belonging to Okinawa Prefecture Okinawa Prefecture is one of Japan's southern prefectures, and consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over 1,000 km long, which extends southwest from Kyūshū (the southwesternmost of Japan's main four islands) to Taiwan. Okinawa's capital, Naha, is located in the southern part of the largest and most populous island, Okinawa, Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south. The characters that make up Japan's name mean "sun-origin", which is why Japan is. Yoron Island Yoronjima is one of the Amami Islands of Japan. Yoron lies 22 km north of Hedo Point, the northernmost point on Okinawa Island. Situated along the line between the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, it is the southernmost island in Kagoshima Prefecture. It is also informally known as Yorontō is the southernmost island of the Satsunan Islands, and Yonaguni Yonaguni is the westernmost island of Japan. It is the last of the Ryukyu Islands chain, and lies 108 kilometers (67 mi) from the east coast of Taiwan, between the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean proper is the southernmost of the Ryukyu Islands.) The largest of the islands is Okinawa Island Okinawa Island is the largest of the Ryukyu Islands of Japan, and is home to Naha, the capital of Okinawa Prefecture. The island has an area of 1,201.03 square kilometers (463.7 sq mi).
The islands have a subtropical The subtropics are the geographical and climatical zone of the Earth immediately north and south of the tropical zone, which is bounded by the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, at latitudes 23.5°N and 23.5°S. The term "subtropical" describes the climatic region found adjacent to the tropics, usually between 20 and 40 climate with warm winters and hot summers. Precipitation In meteorology, precipitation is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that is pulled down by gravity and deposited on the Earth's surface. The main forms of precipitation include rain, snow, ice pellets, and graupel. It occurs when the atmosphere, a large gaseous solution, becomes saturated with water vapour and the water is very high, and is affected by the rainy season and typhoons A Pacific typhoon or tropical storm is a tropical cyclone that develops in the northwestern part of the Pacific Ocean between 180° and 100°E. For organizational purposes, the northern Pacific Ocean is divided into three regions: the eastern , central (140°W to 180°), and western (180° to 100°E). A Pacific typhoon, then, is a tropical cyclone.
The archipelago Archipelagos can be found isolated in bodies of water; or with a large land mass may neighbour them. For example, Scotland has more than 700 islands surrounding its mainland. Archipelagos are often volcanic, forming along island arcs generated by subduction zones or hotspots, but there are many other processes involved in their construction, is home to the Ryukyuan languages The Ryukyuan languages are spoken in the Ryukyu Islands, and make up a subfamily of the Japonic language family. The original dialects are native to each island and distinct from one another.
On February 27, 2010, at 5:31 a.m. local time, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake occurred 80 kilometres (50 mi) east-southeast of Naha Naha is the capital city of the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa at a depth of 22 kilometres (14 mi),[2] but no major damage was reported. At least eight recorded aftershocks were reported, with magnitude up to 5.3[3]
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Naming
Japanese
In Japanese, the definition of the Ryūkyū Shotō (琉球諸島?)[4], literally meaning "Ryukyu Islands", is somewhat different from the English definition[5] of the word. In Japanese, the term Ryūkyū Shotō is used to refer to the part of the Nansei Islands which is in Okinawa Prefecture Okinawa Prefecture is one of Japan's southern prefectures, and consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over 1,000 km long, which extends southwest from Kyūshū (the southwesternmost of Japan's main four islands) to Taiwan. Okinawa's capital, Naha, is located in the southern part of the largest and most populous island, Okinawa (the southern half), as opposed to islands of the same group located in Kagoshima Prefecture Kagoshima Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū. The capital is the city of Kagoshima (the northern half).
Modern usage of the word Ryūkyū (琉球?) in Japanese, however, is usually replaced by the word Okinawa (沖縄?), which is considered its synonym.[6] When referring to the region in the broad sense, the Nansei Islands are sometimes referred to as Amami-Okinawa Chihō (奄美・沖縄地方?), literally "Amami-Okinawa Region", or variations thereof.[7] For example, the Japanese train timetables JR Jikokuhyō (JR時刻表?) uses variations of Nansei Shotō, Okinawa, Amami, etc., but completely avoids using the word Ryūkyū.[8]
English
In English, until well into the late 1800s (Meiji period The Meiji period , or Meiji era denotes the period in Japanese history during the 45-year reign of the Meiji Emperor (from 23 October 1868 to 30 July 1912). During this time, Japan began its modernization and rose to world power status. Meiji means 'Enlightened Rule' in Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south. The characters that make up Japan's name mean "sun-origin", which is why Japan is), the word "Ryukyu" was spelled Luchu, Loo-choo, or Lewchew. These spellings were based on the Chinese pronunciation of the characters for "Ryukyu", which in Mandarin is Liúqiú.[9]
History
Uchinaa flag until 1875 Year 1875 was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar) Uchinaa flag from 1875 Year 1875 was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar) to 1879 1879 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar) Main article: History of Ryukyu Islands The descent of the modern-day Ryukyuan people is disputed. One theory claims that the earliest inhabitants of these islands crossed a prehistoric land bridge from modern-day China, with later additions of Austronesians, Micronesians, and Japanese merging into the population.[citation needed] Another theory, based mostly on evidence from studies ofThe Ryukyu Kingdom The Ryūkyū Kingdom was an independent kingdom which ruled most of the Ryukyu Islands from the 15th century to the 19th century. The Kings of Ryūkyū unified Okinawa Island and extended the kingdom to the Amami Islands in modern-day Kagoshima Prefecture, and the Sakishima Islands near Taiwan. Despite its small size, the kingdom played a central was once an independent kingdom occupying the island chain, from Yonaguni Island Yonaguni is the westernmost island of Japan. It is the last of the Ryukyu Islands chain, and lies 108 kilometers (67 mi) from the east coast of Taiwan, between the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean proper in the southwest to Amami Ōshima Amami Ōshima is a semi-tropical island in the Ryūkyū Archipelago (also known as the Nansei Islands) in Japan. Ōshima literally means big island, and it is the largest of the Amami Islands. It lies roughly halfway between the islands of Okinawa and Kyūshū. Formerly part of the Ryūkyū Kingdom, in 1624 it was annexed by the daimyo of Satsuma in the north. In 1372 Year 1372 was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar, it became a tributary state of the Ming Dynasty The Ming Dynasty , or Empire of the Great Ming (simplified Chinese: 大明国; traditional Chinese: 大明國; pinyin: Dà Míng Guó, also anachronistically simplified Chinese: 大明帝国; traditional Chinese: 大明帝國; pinyin: Dà Míng Dìguó), was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led.
In 1609, Shimazu Tadatsune Shimazu Tadatsune (November 27, 1576-April 7, 1638) was a tozama daimyo of Satsuma, the first to hold it as a formal fief (han) under the Tokugawa shogunate, and the first Japanese to rule over the Ryūkyū Kingdom. As lord of Satsuma, he was among the most powerful lords in Japan at the time, and formally submitted to Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1602, to, Lord of Satsuma Satsuma was an old province of Japan that is now the western half of Kagoshima Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū. Its abbreviation is Sasshū (薩州), invaded the Ryūkyū Kingdom with a fleet of 13 junks and 2,500 samurai Samurai, is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau. In both countries the terms were, thereby establishing suzerainty Suzerainty occurs where a region or people is a tributary to a more powerful entity which controls its foreign affairs while allowing the tributary vassal state some limited domestic autonomy. The superior entity in the suzerainty relationship, or the more powerful entity itself, is called a suzerain. The term suzerainty was originally used to over the islands. They faced little opposition from the Ryukyuans, who lacked any significant military capabilities, and who were ordered by King Shō Nei Shō Nei (1564 – 1620) was king of the Ryūkyū Kingdom (modern-day Okinawa Prefecture, Japan) from 1587–1620. He reigned during the 1609 invasion of Ryūkyū and was the first king of Ryūkyū to be a vassal to the Shimazu clan of Satsuma, a Japanese feudal domain to surrender peacefully rather than suffer the loss of precious lives.[10] After that, the kings of the Ryukyus paid tribute to the Japanese shogun Shogun listen (help·info) (literally, "a commander of a force") is a military rank and historical title for (in most cases) hereditary military dictator of Japan. The modern rank is equivalent to a Generalissimo. Although the original meaning of "shogun" is simply "a general", as a title, it is used as the short form as well as the Chinese emperor The Emperor of China refers to any sovereign of Imperial China reigning since the founding of China, united by the King of Qin in 221 BC until the fall of Yuan Shikai's Empire of China in 1916. When referred to as the Son of Heaven (Chinese: 天子 tiānzì), a title that predates the Qin unification, the Emperor was recognized as the ruler of &.
In 1879 1879 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar), the Meiji government The Government of Meiji period Japan from 1868-1911 was an evolution of institutions and structures from the feudal order of the Tokugawa bakufu towards a constitutional monarchy encompassing pro-forma representative democracy announced the annexation of the Ryukyus The descent of the modern-day Ryukyuan people is disputed. One theory claims that the earliest inhabitants of these islands crossed a prehistoric land bridge from modern-day China, with later additions of Austronesians, Micronesians, and Japanese merging into the population.[citation needed] Another theory, based mostly on evidence from studies of. Messengers sent by the Ryukyuan king had knelt outside the Zongli Yamen Zongli Yamen was the name of the government office/department of foreign relations (or Foreign Office) of imperial China during the Qing dynasty. It was established by Prince Gong in 1861, following the Convention of Peking, the Chinese foreign affairs office in Beijing, for three days, pleading not to be separated from China.[citation needed] China, weakened from internal corruption and colonial occupation, refused the request to send military protection. Instead, China made diplomatic objections and asked former United States President The President of the United States is the head of state and head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in the United States by influence and recognition. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is one of only two nationally elected federal officers Ulysses S. Grant Ulysses Simpson Grant born Hiram Ulysses Grant was the 18th President of the United States (1869–77) as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under the command of Grant, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America. His image as a war hero was to arbitrate. Grant decided that Japan's claim to the islands was stronger and ruled in Japan's favor. The claims of the indigenous Ryukyuans to the land were ignored.[citation needed]
In the process of annexation, the Japanese military assassinated Ryukyu politicians and civilians who opposed the takeover.[citation needed] The Ryukyu Kingdom became part of its northern neighbor, the Satsuma han The Satsuma domain was one of the most powerful feudal domains in Tokugawa Japan, and played a major role in the Meiji Restoration and in the government of the Meiji period which followed. Controlled throughout the Edo period by the tozama daimyō of the Shimazu clan, its territory spanned the provinces of Satsuma, Osumi and the south-west region. Later, it became its own prefecture, Okinawa Prefecture, when the prefectural system was adopted nationwide The Abolition of the Han System and Establishment of the Prefecture System was an act, in 1871, of the new Meiji government of the Empire of Japan to replace the traditional feudal domain (han) system and to introduce centralized government authority (Prefectures of Japan). This process marked the culmination of the Meiji Restoration in that all. Compulsory Japanese education was enforced on the Ryukyu children, whereby they were taught Japanese language, culture and identity, while strictly forbidden the use of their native language.
Military activity on the island, before and during World War II, especially the Battle of Okinawa, had a devastating effect on the Okinawan people. A huge loss of civilian life left many feeling that they were being mistreated by both the Japanese and American military. Okinawa remains the poorest prefecture in Japan to this day.
The US was granted control over Ryukyu Islands south of 29°N latitude amongst other Pacific islands, under the San Francisco Peace Treaty between the Allied Powers and Japan. US military control over Okinawa began in 1945 with establishment of the Okinawa Advisory Council. This organization eventually became the government of the Ryukyu Islands which existed from 1952 to 1972. Sovereignty was given to Japan in 1972.
Today, there are a number of issues arising from Ryukyuan history. Some Ryukyuans and some Japanese feel that people from the Ryukyus are different from the majority Yamato people. Some natives of the Ryukyus claim that the central government is discriminating against the islanders by allowing so many American soldiers to be stationed on bases in Okinawa with a minimal presence on the mainland. Additionally, there is some discussion of secession from Japan.
Many popular singers and musical groups come from the Ryukyus. These include (among many others) the pop groups Begin (ビギン) and Orange Range, singers Namie Amuro and Gackt, as well as the group Da Pump. See also Ryukyuan music.
Historical description of the 'Loo-Choo' islands
An article in the 1878 edition of the 'Globe Encyclopaedia of Universal Information' described the islands as:[11]
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Loo-Choo, Lu-Tchu, or Lieu-Baeu, a group of thirty-six islands stretching from Japan to Formosa, in 20°-27° 40' N. lat., 126" :o'-!29° 5' E. long., and tributary to Japan. The largest, Tsju San ('middle island') is about 60 miles long and 12 broad; others are Sannan in the S. and Sanbok in the N. Nawa, the chief port of Tsju San, is open to foreign commerce. The islands enjoy a magnificent climate, and are highly cultivated and very productive. Among the productions are tea, rice, sugar, tobacco, camphor, fruits, and silk. The principal manufactures are cotton, paper, porcelain, and lacquered ware. The people, who are small, seem a connecting link between the Chinese and Japanese.[11]
People
Main article: RyukyuansThe Ryukyuans are known for their longevity. The Okinawa Centenarian Study attributes this phenomenon to a combination of diet, exercise, and lifestyle practices.[citation needed]
Since the most recent Japanese invasion in 1879, Japanese has become the main language on the Ryukyus, especially on Uchinā (Okinawa), through discrimination in education. Middle-aged or younger people tend not to speak a Ryukyuan language as fluently as Japanese, if at all.[citation needed]
Ecology
Nansei Islands subtropical evergreen forests
The Ryukyu Islands are recognized by ecologists as a distinct subtropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion. The flora and fauna of the islands have much in common with Taiwan, the Philippines, and Southeast Asia, and are part of the Indomalaya ecozone.
Coral reefs
The coral reefs of the Ryukyus are one of the World Wildlife Fund's Global 200 ecoregions. The reefs are endangered by sedimentation and eutrophication, mostly a result of agriculture, as well as damage from fishing.
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Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:14:23 GMT+00:00
allvoices ... voted for legality of Kosovo declaration, could lose even three islands: Ainu, Hokkaido and Okinawa with Ryukyu Islands under new name Ryukyu Republic. ...
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laji
Wed, 26 May 2010 11:18:00 GM
An earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale struck near the . Ryukyu Islands. near Japan at 0853 GMT Wednesday, but there was no report of any casualty, the US Geological Survey said. The epicentre, at a depth of 10 km under the sea ...
