Who Are the Okinawans?

I was recently contacted by a fellow researcher asking is there was any evidence that early RyuKyu was settled by folks from the Korean Peninsula. What follows is a very brief overview of what is currently the main academic story surrounding Ryukyu and settlement. 

Research into the origins of the Ryukyu Islands reveals a rich and layered history of settlement shaped by a variety of cultural and genetic influences. The main currents of influence came predominantly from coastal Japan, yet there were connections to the Korean Peninsula during distinct historical periods. The Gusuku period (approximately the 11th to 14th centuries CE) was a formative era marked by significant exchanges across a maritime network that included the Korean Peninsula. Despite these exchanges, the main settlers of the Ryukyu Islands were primarily from northern Japan【(The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus)​.】.

This is underscored by archaeological and linguistic evidence, which links the Ryukyuan population and language closely to their northern Japanese counterparts. The Ryukyuan languages are considered part of the Japonic family, suggesting deep roots in Japan. Furthermore, during the Gusuku period, stone fortresses and networks of trade emerged, facilitating not only cultural exchanges but also reinforcing the influence from the north. Nevertheless, cultural practices and technologies from Korea trickled down to the Ryukyu Islands, enriching their distinctive heritage【(The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus)​.】.

The Ryukyu Islands were also part of extensive maritime networks as early as the 9th century CE, extending from the Korean Peninsula in the north to Southeast Asia in the south. During this time, the islands experienced significant exchanges with Jomon-era Japanese from Okinawa northward, while Austronesian peoples related to the indigenous inhabitants of Taiwan settled in the Miyako and Yaeyama island groups【(The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus)​.】. Overall, while there is evidence of interaction with the Korean Peninsula, the predominant cultural and genetic influences on the Ryukyuan people originated from Japan and Southeast Asia rather than through direct settlement from Korea【Oxford University Press】.

You can read more at: ​https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4271021/