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Question: Why would a person from Okinawa be offended if someone called them Japanese!?
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Principally because they are not Japanese!. Okinawans, or Ryukyu Islanders, have their own language, history and culture!.
http://en!.wikipedia!.org/wiki/Ryukyuans

These all reach back far beyond the Japanese invasion of Okinawa in 1609!.
http://en!.wikipedia!.org/wiki/Ry%C5%ABky%!.!.!.

In essence, the Okinawans are no more Japanese than the Scots are English!. To call an Okinawan 'Japanese' would be to offend his sense of identity and culture!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The Ryūkyū Kingdom is a DIFFERENT place with different people!.
They are not Japanese, nor are they Chinese!. They are Okinawan!.

If you were American and someone kept insisting you were Canadian, wouldn't you be a little peeved!? And we ARE just alike!. But Okinawans are not like the Japanese!.

The Okinawans have several different influences!.
Okinawan culture bears traces of its various trading partners!. One can find Chinese, Thai and Austronesian influences in the island's customs!.
The origional Ryukyuan languages which are more-or-less incomprehensible to Japanese speakers!.
Okinawa also has its own religious beliefs!.

They are just different people!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Would you be offended if someone called you a hick, a dude, or a hillbilly!? The people of Okinawa are a different racial group and there are subtle differences between their culture and the main Japanese culture!. They have their own identity and don't want to lose it!. When you lump them in with the Japanese, it is as bad as calling a New Yorker a hillbilly or a redneck!.


Www@QuestionHome@Com

You have to understand that people in general can hold resentment through generations and generations of history!. When a conquering race subjugates another race they usually treat them as second hand citizens even centuries after they have become a part of that society!. development of racism on both sides keeps an old wound open and festering!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

Okinawa has a separate culture, but was conquered by Japan long ago!. They've been a Japanese possession ever since, but have resented it!. So calling them Japanese is insulting because the Japanese were their conquerors and are not all that popular in Okinawa!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Because they are not Japanese, they are Okinawan!. It's like someone from the US being called a Mexican!. They're in the same general area, but that's all!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

Okinawans consider they are a separate country and not Japanese at allWww@QuestionHome@Com