Ryukyu Islands

British  

/ rɪˈuːkjuː /

plural noun

1. Japanese name: Nansei-shoto. a chain of 55 islands in the W Pacific, extending almost 650 km (400 miles) from S Japan to N Taiwan: an ancient kingdom, under Chinese rule from the late 14th century, invaded by Japan in the early 17th century, under full Japanese sovereignty from 1879 to 1945, and US control from 1945 to 1972; now part of Japan again. They are subject to frequent typhoons. Chief town: Naha (on Okinawa). Pop: 1 318 220 (2000). Area: 2196 sq km (849 sq miles)

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Ryukyu Islands

The dispersal pathway of the Kuroshio Current indicates that Borelis matsudai likely appeared in the southern and central Ryukyu Islands at least since the Middle Pleistocene, around 770,000 years ago.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2023

Two U.S. aircraft carriers, the USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan, had been operating around the geopolitically important Ryukyu Islands in the Philippine Sea since Thursday, Global Times cited a Beijing-based think tank as saying.

From Reuters ● Jun. 12, 2023

Japan has been quietly building up its firepower in locations near the potential combat zone, establishing new military bases along the southern Ryukyu Islands chain, notably on the islands of Ishigaki and Miyako.

From Washington Times ● Feb. 22, 2023

The Ryukyu Islands once were independent, but in the late 19th century were seized by Imperial Japan.

From Forbes ● Nov. 26, 2014

Excepting the twin sister tongue spoken in the Ryukyu Islands," writes Professor Chamberlain, "the Japanese language has no kindred, and its classification under any of the recognized linguistic families remains doubtful.

From A History of the Japanese People From the Earliest Times to the End of the Meiji Era by F. (Frank) Brinkley

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---