r/Sino • u/AttorneyOk5749 • Jan 16 '26
history/culture Japan's systematic extermination of Ryukyu culture
As an independent state, Ryukyu had been a tributary of China, becoming a vassal of the Ming Dynasty in 1372. In 1609, the Japanese Satsuma Domain invaded Ryukyu, which was subsequently annexed by Japan in 1879 to form Okinawa Prefecture. During the Pacific War of the Second World War, the largest, bloodiest, and longest amphibious landing operation unfolded here, where the Imperial Japanese Navy's flagship Yamato was sunk. Nearly 100,000 Japanese Army personnel were present, along with 140,000 Ryukyuan civilians (a quarter of the population), who were forced to accompany them to their deaths.
Following the Second World War, the United States exercised military occupation over the Ryukyu Islands. In 1972, administrative control was transferred to Japan, though the question of sovereignty remains unresolved.
Following the military occupation of Ryukyu by the Satsuma Domain, successive Japanese governments systematically pursued cultural eradication against the Ryukyu Islands.
Satsuma Domain period (1609–1872): The Satsuma Domain compelled Ryukyu to maintain its tributary relationship with the Qing Dynasty. To profit from Sino-Ryukyuan trade, Japan did not immediately pursue Yamato-isation.
The Establishment of the Ryukyu Administration (1879–1930s): In 1879, the Meiji government forcibly annexed the Ryukyu Kingdom as Okinawa Prefecture. Schools were strictly prohibited from using the Ryukyuan language, the traditional Confucian education system was abolished, Ryukyuan history was rewritten as a narrative of ‘Japanisation’, Ryukyuan people were compelled to adopt Japanese-style surnames, Ryukyuan-style ancestral shrines were demolished, and Shintoism was imposed.
Imperialisation and Ethnic Assimilation into Yamato Culture (1930s–Present): Through the Imperialisation Campaign, Ryukyuan people were forcibly compelled to pledge allegiance to the Emperor. Japanese forces extensively propagated the notion that ‘the Ryukyuan people are the frontline shield of the Japanese Empire’ in Okinawa. During the Battle of Okinawa, the populace was compelled to commit mass suicide in service to the Emperor. Under the pretext of ‘countering espionage,’ Japanese troops summarily executed Ryukyuan speakers.
The modern Japanese education system largely fails to recognise Ryukyuan as an independent language, instead classifying it as an ‘Okinawan dialect’. Currently, all six Ryukyuan language branches are classified by UNESCO as ‘endangered languages’. Meanwhile, in February 2022, Japan's House of Representatives passed a resolution expressing concern over China's human rights situation, including the plight of the Uyghurs. Uyghur is not an endangered language, and both the Uyghur population and life expectancy have continued to rise under Communist Party leadership.
Faced with such data, Japanese Uyghur MP Yingli Alifia nevertheless claims China is eradicating traditional culture in Xinjiang. One wonders how this Uyghur parliamentarian views the plight of the Ryukyuan people, where it is currently estimated that only around 100,000 individuals aged 70 or above can still speak the Ryukyuan language?
Beyond distinct cultural orientations, significant differences also exist between Ryukyuan and Japanese lifestyles in everyday particulars. Ryukyuan cuisine bears closer resemblance to Fujianese and Chaozhou dishes (such as stir-fried bitter melon with pork slices), with a preference for whole-pig preparations (including offal, such as braised pork prepared in Chinese style). Ryukyuan shochu, meanwhile, aligns more closely with Chinese baijiu than with the sweet, low-alcohol profile of Japanese sake.
Since the early 1980s, scholars from mainland China have also actively engaged in academic discourse, further expanding the international perspective and collaborative networks within Ryukyu studies.
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Jan 16 '26
Unfortunately Japan has plenty of anti-China outlets still believing that a genocide is happening in xingjiang without realizing they are doing the same thing.
Also Japanese government should at least apologize to the ryuchu islands for what happened at WW2 there
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u/No_Tangerine993 Jan 16 '26
They're not that ignorant of history. Which makes it worse. By ignorant, I don't mean the masses they have little say in the matter, but those uptop who control the media know with exacting clarity what is occuring.
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u/Portablela Jan 16 '26
To them, it is their religion, 'their false God'. To topple their faith, China's rise has to be absolutely irrefutable while their decline absolutely irrevocable.
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u/greasy_potatoes Jan 16 '26
You could say the same for the Ainu.
So much double standards when it comes to this, I yet to see those who calls for "free xyz" in regards to China, call out Japan. When brought up, most will defend Japan and say Okinawa/Ainu wants to be part of Japan. I mean that was the point of why Japan pursued cultural erasure, with no culture to identify with, its easier to assimilate them, so of course they won't care now.
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u/celestialsworld Jan 16 '26
The Japanese are the 东样人. They have behaving like that since the Meiji Restoration.
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u/Particular-Jacket-71 Jan 16 '26
Anyone who have visited Ryukyu (known as "Okinawa" in Japanese) might remember the song "Tōshin Dōi". This is almost a must if you have slightly participated in any local tourism activities during your trip.
The title of the song is translated as "The Tang Ship Has Arrived", which was a popular folk song in the three kingdoms of Nanshan, Beishan and Zhongshan during the Tripartite Kingdoms period of the Ryukyu Kingdom. What does the lyrics say? There are countless versions. For example, in one of the branches called "Raimeiha", the first line after the chant must be:
"【Chanting】
The Chinese ship has arrived!
The Chinese ship has arrived!
HeyiHeyi~ HeyiHeyi~
Good， Good!
Come on， move!
HeyaHeya！"
【 Grandpa Raimeiha Version】
Everyone is shouting
The Chinese ship is coming!
Yo, Grandpa Raimeiha from Jakuchou...”
Then, the next step was the creation of various different versions, including the light-hearted and funny ones, the cheerful and swinging ones, and the straightforward ones. In short, all of them used Grandpa Raimeiha to tell about the good qualities of the Tang ships, the daily lives, enthusiasm, kindness and simplicity of the Ryukyu people.
This was a dance tune that the locals would surely perform with singing and dancing whenever Chinese ships docked. After being passed down for hundreds of years, it has become an essential ritual for the locals to greet and bid farewell to visitors.
Why were they so welcoming of Chinese ships? Because those were the only kind of merchant ships that would never harm the Ryukyu people but would definitely bring them all kinds of surprises. So, this particular version came into being:
"The Chinese ship has arrived!
The Chinese ships has arrived!
Whether it's the Chinese ships or the Yamato ships,
Through Chinese ships are precious,
but if it's a Yamato ship, let them anchor too..."
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u/bbqyak Jan 16 '26
Always hilarious about this fake propaganda that Uyghur culture is being exterminated by the government. There are Uyghur restaurants all over China and it's so popular you can find these types of restaurants all around the world now.
Japan only formally recognized Ainu people in 2008 lmao. These people have been there for thousands of years and the first museum was created in 2020! What a joke holy shit.
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u/TheZonePhotographer Jan 16 '26 edited Jan 16 '26
Ryukyu Luchu
Yamato Wa
Anyway, like Taiwan Luchu will be restored one way or another. It could happen slowly, or quickly.
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u/_HopSkipJump_ Jan 16 '26
Rob Kajiwara has a great YT channel on Luchuan history, especially with China. His explanation of the tribute system is particularly important because it doesn't match Western hegemonic power concepts, quite the opposite.