An independent nation until 1879, the Ryukyu Islands have their own unique culture, history, and languages. Ryukyu can be described as a Pacific Island culture mixed with Chinese, Southeast Asian, Japanese, and Korean influences that have carried over to Ryukyu over the course of hundreds, if not thousands, of years, having been adapted and modified by native Ryukyuans to meet their own unique needs. The result is a culture unlike that of anywhere...