Nansei actually means “southwest”, the path of the island chain relative to mainland Japan. For example, the individuals of Okinawa Island check with themselves as Uchinaanchu (ウチナーンチュ, people of Okinawa) and the people of Okinoerabujima in the Amami Islands name themselves the Erabunchu (エラブンチュ, folks of Erabu), whereas referring to the Okinawans as Uchinaanchu or […]

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