Are Okinawan's Japanese? 

It’s like the relationship between Italy and Sicily.

Very well explained. We always identify ourselves as Okinawan whenever people ask. We are proud of our ethnicity. When I was born (I'm from Chatan-son), Okinawa was not part of Japan. It was a U.S. territory since after WW2. My mom (she's from Ginowan) was very involved in the Uchinanchu club here in the U.S. and we love going to the festivals. Anyway, mom being a WW2 survivor always drilled it in our heads that we are Okinawan and not Japanese.

My wife was born in the castle town of Shuri. She is ethnically Okinawan. She is often confused to be Philipino. However she speaks Japanese and some Okinawan. She seems content to be a Japanese national but embraces both Okinawan and Japanese cultures, much the way Ghandi embraced so many religions. To me the cultures are quite different but there is overlap with regard to morals. There is little crime in Okinawa except for that which is imported.

Okinawans are Okinawans the only reason that they're "japanese" is because they're govern by Japan. The culture, language, religion and Race are different and Okinawa was historically its own kingdom

Okinawans had their own kingdom.

I am Ainu, Okinawan and Japanese, and all three have very different cultures and languages and beliefs so I always say I’m all three

My dad is Okinawan but was adopted by white Americans, so as I am trying to learn more about my Okinawan heritage I get very confused! And BTW my dad very strongly believes he is NOT Japanese lol. He says he is Okinawan when people ask.

Okinawans are Japanese in the same sense that Hawaiians are Americans

Okinawan/Ryukyu Peoples are culturally differ from Mainland Japan. Ironic that you mentioned Hawai'i and Okinawa, as both have grassroots movements to become their own sovereign states/countries! Nice video, thanks for posting!

They stole karate from them and label them as blacksheep 😆

Appreciate your sensitivity here. I think answers are also given differently in different situations. I will always claim to be Okinawan American to those who care enough to want to know me. Then the history lesson starts.

The Okinawans who want nothing to do with Japan are often the older generation who remember WW2 and transitioning into becoming Japanese territory vividly. I have Okinawan family and a lot of the older generation actually tends to prefer Americans over Japanese. My great-grandmother was vehemently racist against Japanese people, but didn't care anywhere near as much for Americans.

During the early discussions about the reversion of Okinawa to Japan about 1970, I asked my coworker who was Okinawan-American what the Okinawan people thought about the Japanese eventual takeover. She pointed out that most of the ones she knew did not want any part of Japan at all. She added that as far as she could tell the Japanese people (from the mainland) thought of the Okinawan people "as those short dark people from the south with spicy food". I'll never forget her words.

Nicely done! You truly gave honor to those who choose to remain Okinawans but also honored those who choose to be called Japanese.

The most succinct, articulated explanation of the difference between Okinawans and Japanese. Very well done.

Love the video.

Wikipedia writes:

Either way, I'm Okinawan, and Japanese . Proud to be both , this is who I am as a good person wants to live my life best as I can . Thank you so much.

Hi Matt! I've never seen your videos before, but this one was recommended to me. I'm ethnically half Okinawan, half Japanese, born and raised in Hawaii. I think you explained the differences very well. :) This video would have been very useful for me back when I first started wondering about the differences. There's a huge Okinawan diaspora, so there's a lot of Okinawans in Hawaii and Brazil. But, with my family, I wasn't exposed to Okinawan culture growing up. (I'm 4th generation, so it was my great-grand parents from my mother's side that came to Hawaii from Okinawa.) So now I'm exploring what it means, at least to me, to be Okinawan. I've never been to Okinawa, so I hope to visit my ancestors' homeland someday.

Great! Thanks a lot for this video focusing on a very exciting question. My father was born in Okinawa and emigrated to Brazil (I was born in Brazil and emigrated to Germany). My perception is that the Okinawan community in Brazil does not see itself as part of the big Japanese community, due to its own different language and tradition.