From TheBestLinks.com
The Ryukyu Islands or Luchu Islands (南西諸島 Nansei-shotō or 琉球列島
Ryūkyū-rettō) are an island group between the islands of Kyushu and Taiwan. The northern half is known as Satsunan Shotō, belonging to Kagoshima prefecture, Japan, while the southern half is known as Ryūkyū Shotō, belonging to Okinawa prefecture, Japan. The archipelago is home to the Ryukyuan language family.
The Ryukyu Kingdom was once an independent kingdom, occupying most of the island chain, from Yonaguni island in the southwest, to Amami Oshima in the north. In the 1600s, it obtained tributary status to the Chinese emperor (and therefore theoretically should come to their aid if necessary). A 1609 expedition from Satsuma on Kyushu captured the Kingdom. After that, the kings of the Ryukyus paid tribute to the Japanese emperor as well as the Chinese emperor.
In 1879, the Meiji government announced the annexation of the Ryukyus. China objected and the ex-President of the United States Ulysses S. Grant was asked to arbitrate. He decided that Japan's claim to the islands was stronger and ruled in Japan's favor.
Today, there are a host of problems arising from the Ryukyus' less-than-Japanese history. Some Ryukyuans (and some Japanese as well) feel that people from the Ryukyus are not "real" Japanese. Also, some natives of the Ryukyus claim that the central government is discriminating against them by allowing so many American soldiers to be stationed in Okinawa, a far higher percentage than are stationed anywhere else in Japan.
Many popular singers and musical groups come from the Ryukyus. These include (among many others) the pop group Begin, singer Amuro Namie and the group Da Pump. See also Ryukyuan songs.
Reference
ja:南西諸島
de:Ryukyu-Inselkette
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