Amami Islands

The Amami Islands (奄美諸島, Amami Shōtō) is a group of islands in Kagoshima prefecture in the Kyūshū region of Japan. It is also known as the Satsunan Islands (薩南諸島, Satsunan Shōtō). History The name of the islands comes from the mythological figure of Amamiko. It was attacked by the Ryūkyū Kingdom in 1570, but was invaded by Satsuma Domain in 1609. Amami was occupied by the United States from 1945 to 1953. Demographics The native people of the Amami Islands are the Amami people, who are a subgroup of a larger Ryukyuan ethnicity. Languages The Amami language belongs to the Ryukyuan languages, all of which are endangered because in the past, Japan suppressed them. This is also why most younger Amamians speak Japanese instead, as it was enforced in schools. Geography The largest island in the group is Amami Island. Other islands include Kikai Island, Tokunoshima, Okinoerabu Island, Yorontou and some small islands make up the Amami Islands. Related pages Provinces of Japan Prefectures of Japan List of regions of Japan List of islands of Japan References