103-554: Yukatchu ( ユカッチュ, 良人 ), also known as Samuree ( サムレー ), were the aristocracy of the Ryukyu Kingdom . The scholar-bureaucrats of classical Chinese studies living in Kumemura held the majority of government positions. The Yukatchu were part of a complex caste system that existed in Ryukyu for centuries. They were the feudal scholar-officials class that was charged with enforcing
206-832: A vassal state of the Satsuma Domain of Japan after the invasion of Ryukyu in 1609 but retained de jure independence until it was transformed into the Ryukyu Domain by the Empire of Japan in 1872. The Ryukyu Kingdom was formally annexed and dissolved by Japan in 1879 to form Okinawa Prefecture , and the Ryukyuan monarchy was integrated into the new Japanese nobility . In the 14th century, small domains scattered on Okinawa Island were unified into three principalities: Hokuzan ( 北山 , Northern Mountain) , Chūzan ( 中山 , Central Mountain) , and Nanzan ( 南山 , Southern Mountain) . This
309-537: A 2022 study by the National Police Agency illegal residents decreased from 219,000 in 2004 to 113,000 in 2008, and in addition, the number of arrested foreign visitors decreased from 21,842 in 2004 to 13,880 in 2008. The percentage of foreign nationals in all arrestees charged in penal code crimes was about 2.0% and this number has remained relatively stable. While the percentage of foreign nationals among all arrestees charged in cases involving robbery or burglary
412-519: A European resident in a protectorate. But the kingdom was not considered as part of any han (fief): up until the formal annexation of the islands and abolition of the kingdom in 1879, the Ryukyus were not truly considered de jure part of Edo Japan. Though technically under the control of Satsuma, Ryukyu was given a great degree of autonomy, to best serve the interests of the Satsuma daimyō and those of
515-488: A book called Chian wa Hontouni Akkashiteirunoka ( 治安はほんとうに悪化しているのか ) (in English: Is Public Safety Really Deteriorating? , ISBN 978-4-86162-025-6 ) disputing foreign crime statistics, suggesting that such statistics were being manipulated by politicians for political gain. He suggested, for example, that including visa violations in crime statistics is misleading. He also said that
618-457: A living as farmers or forestry managers. He also issued regulations for the yukatchu in 1730, banning prostitution, which blossomed at the time and disrupted the noble nature of the aristocratic class, and setting mandates regarding the status of illegitimate offspring. There was opposition to Sai On's Confucian reforms, and political factions emerged among the yukatchu , those of Kumemura and those of Shuri (the capital) on opposite sides for
721-532: A major labor shortage. Although this policy has been decelerated in recent years, many of these individuals continue to live in Japan, some in ethnic enclaves near their workplaces. Many people from Southeast Asia (particularly Vietnam and the Philippines ) and Southwest Asia (and Iran ) also entered Japan during this time, making foreigners as a group a more visible minority in Japan. The TBS television series Smile
824-470: A manner as close to traditional customs as is possible. Any acts of maladministration, and exorbitant taxes and dues levied during the regime of the former clan government will probably be righted upon careful consideration. Do not be misled by irresponsible rumors. All are advised to pursue their respective occupations with ease of mind. The hereditary lords of the Ryukyu Kingdom were strongly opposed to
927-803: A mere "subgroup" of the Japanese people and therefore synonymous to the Yamato people , and does not recognize them as a minority group with a distinct culture. About 2.4% of Japan's total legal resident population are foreign citizens. Of these, according to 2022 data from the Japanese government, the principal groups are as follows. The above statistics do not include the approximately 30,000 U.S. military stationed in Japan, nor do they account for illegal immigrants. The statistics also do not take into account naturalized citizens from backgrounds including but not limited to Korean and Chinese, and citizen descendants of immigrants. The total legal resident population of 2012
1030-705: A negative public perception. In 2003, foreigners from Africa were responsible for 2.8 times as much crime per capita as Japanese natives but were slightly less likely to commit violent crime. According to National Police Authority records, in 2002, 16,212 foreigners were caught committing 34,746 crimes, over half of which turned out to be visa violations (residing/working in Japan without a valid visa). The statistics show that 12,667 cases (36.5%) and 487 individuals (0.038%) were Chinese, 5,272 cases (15.72%) and 1,186 individuals (7.3%) were Brazilian, and 2,815 cases (8.1%) and 1,738 individuals (10.7%) were Korean and ~6000 were others foreigners. The total number of crimes committed in
1133-500: A number of yukatchu would travel to Beijing for the formal tribute mission once every two years, and four Ryukyuan students were allowed to remain in Beijing's National Academy at any one time. In addition, many of the scholars sent to Fujian from Ryukyu were assigned to study a single, specific subject intensively, so as to become an expert, educating those at home in Ryukyu, and applying their new knowledge to administrative matters. Thus,
SECTION 10
#17328907301611236-437: A number of yukatchu , arguing against assimilation, can be said to be the final "gasp" of the yukatchu , twenty years after the abolition of the samurai class in "mainland" Japan. Samuree , a Ryukyuan pronunciation of the Japanese word " samurai ", was often used interchangeably with yukatchu at the time, as both were aristocratic classes in their respective cultures. However, since the samurai were essentially warriors and
1339-415: A panel. Representation of black people in Japanese media, such as anime, has been subject to criticism. Instances of harassment, hate speech and discrimination targeting Russians living in Japan were reported after Russian invasion of Ukraine . Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi condemned human rights abuses against Russians that took place. In January 2024, three foreign-born residents in Japan sued
1442-558: A policy of forced assimilation throughout the former Ryukyu Kingdom after it was annexed in 1872. With only the standard Japanese taught in schools and students punished for speaking or writing their native language through the use of dialect cards , the younger generations of Ryukyuans began to give up their "backwards" culture for that of Japan. The Japanese government officially labels the Ryukyuan languages as dialects (Hōgen) of Japanese, although they are not mutually intelligible with one another, or even between each other. In 1940, there
1545-556: A result, many yukatchu returned from China; stipends continued to be paid until 1909. Though Japanese policy was originally largely one of continuation of old traditions, by the turn of the 20th century, nationwide efforts to provide uniform education and create a uniform culture and language were implemented in Okinawa as they were throughout the nation. The 1896 formation of the Kōdōkai ("Society for Public Unity") by former prince Shō En and
1648-542: A rice stipend. These stipends were quite small as compared to those of Japanese samurai , but were likely quite appreciated, particularly after 1712, when the number of yukatchu increased dramatically, along with competition for positions in the bureaucracy; at this time, stipends were no longer guaranteed to those without government posts. A yukatchu's primary purpose was to study traditional Chinese subjects; in addition to purely theoretic or academic studies, yukatchu of Kumemura were specifically cultivated for service in
1751-455: A show of parading the King, officials, and other people of Ryukyu to and through Edo. As the only han to have a king and an entire kingdom as vassals, Satsuma gained significantly from Ryukyu's exoticness, reinforcing that it was an entirely separate kingdom. According to statements by Qing imperial official Li Hongzhang in a meeting with Ulysses S. Grant , China had a special relationship with
1854-713: A surge in foreign workers in Japan and discussions on Japanese identity. Although foreign professors teach throughout the Japanese higher education system, Robert J. Geller of the University of Tokyo reported, in 1992, that it was extremely rare for them to be given tenure . As in other countries, foreigners sometimes do work that is not allowed by their visas, or overstay the terms of their visas. Their employment tends to be concentrated in fields where most Japanese are not able to or no longer wish to work. The yakuza or Japanese organized crime has made use of Chinese immigrants in Japan as henchmen to commit crimes, which have led to
1957-441: A top government official from 1712 to the early 1750s, sought to return Ryukyu and the yukatchu to their proper cultural and intellectual path. He described in his autobiography incidents in which he, the son of a low-ranked yukatchu family, was ridiculed by higher-ranking aristocratic children, despite his superior education and talent. Among his many reforms, he created opportunities for yukatchu without government posts to earn
2060-498: Is 25,000, though this number has been disputed with unofficial estimates of upwards of 200,000. For much of Japanese history, the Ainu were the main inhabitants of Hokkaido. However, as a result of Japanese migration into the island after 1869, the Ainu were largely displaced and assimilated. Due to Meiji era policies, the Ainu were evicted from their traditional homelands and their cultural practices were outlawed. Official recognition of
2163-491: Is about Bito Hayakawa, who was born to a Japanese mother and Filipino father, and struggled to overcome the difficulties faced as a mixed race child. The main concerns of the latter groups are often related to their legal status, a public perception of criminal activity, and general discrimination associated with being non-Japanese. The first arrival of large influx of Western foreigners in Japan, particularly those from North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, occurred in
SECTION 20
#17328907301612266-630: Is considered by many as provocative, if not explicitly racist. In 2014, a United States government human rights report expressed concern about the abuse and harassment directed against Korean nationals by Japanese right-wing groups such as the Uyoku dantai . In 2022, it was reported that anti-Korean racism in Japan has been on the rise, with homes burned, including one in Utoro district in Uji , and death threats made towards ethnic Korean communities. Mainland Chinese are
2369-499: Is estimated at 127.6 million. The nine largest minority groups residing in Japan are: North and South Korean , Chinese (also Taiwanese), Brazilian (many Brazilians in Japan have Japanese ancestors), Filipinos , Vietnamese , the Ainu indigenous to Hokkaido , the Ryukyuans indigenous to Okinawa , and other islands between Kyushu and Taiwan . The burakumin , an outcast group at
2472-703: Is in contrast with the Chinese living in Japan, who generally use their Chinese names and openly form Chinatown communities. An increase in tensions between Japan and North Korea in the late 1990s led to a surge of attacks against Chongryon, the pro-North residents' organisation, including a pattern of assaults against Korean schoolgirls in Japan. The Japanese authorities have recently started to crack down on Chongryon with investigations and arrests. These moves are often criticized by Chongryon as acts of political suppression. When Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara referred to Chinese and Koreans as sangokujin ( 三国人 ) in 2000 in
2575-399: Is rare, especially on mainland Okinawa. The language still is used in traditional cultural activities, such as folk music, or folk dance. After the annexation of the islands, many Ryukyuans, especially Okinawans, migrated to the mainland to find jobs or better living conditions. They were sometimes met with discrimination, such as workplaces with signs that read, "No Ryukyuans or Koreans." At
2678-551: The 1903 Osaka Exhibition , an exhibit called the "Pavilion of the World" (Jinruikan) had actual Okinawans, Ainu, Koreans, and other "backwards" peoples on display in their native clothes and housing. During the fierce fighting in the Battle of Okinawa, some Japanese soldiers committed multiple atrocities against Okinawan civilians, including rape and murder, using them as human shields , and persuading or forcing them to commit suicide. In 2007,
2781-620: The Imperial Academy in Beijing, and formally recognized the authority of the King of Chūzan, allowing the kingdom to trade formally at Ming ports. Ryukyuan ships, often provided by China, traded at ports throughout the region, which included, among others, China, Đại Việt (Vietnam), Japan, Java , Korea , Luzon , Malacca , Pattani , Palembang , Siam , and Sumatra . Japanese products—silver, swords, fans, lacquerware , folding screens —and Chinese products—medicinal herbs, minted coins, glazed ceramics, brocades, textiles—were traded within
2884-540: The Korean language was regarded as a regional ethnic language ( 民族語 ) and suppressed, while the Japanese language was designated as the national language, with Koreans being required to learn it. After a relatively lenient period, the Korean language course in public schools was downgraded to a non-compulsory subject in 1938 and cancelled in 1941, though the Korean language and Hangeul were still used in war-time propaganda until
2987-864: The Ministry of Education attempted to revise school textbooks to lessen mention of these atrocities, but was met with massive demonstrations in Okinawa. Culturally, Okinawa showed great influences from southern China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia, reflecting its long history of trade with these regions. However, because of the standard use of Japanese in schools, television, and all print media in Okinawa, these cultural differences are often glossed over in Japanese society. Consequently, many Japanese consider Okinawans to be Yamato Japanese, sometimes ignoring their distinct cultural and historical heritage in insensitive ways. People of foreign origin and nationality are often are often called 外国人 Gaikokujin (foreign country person) or 外人 Gaijin (outsider or alien), with
3090-509: The Tokugawa shogunate . Dominated by Satsuma, Ryukyu served as an intermediary for Sino-Japanese commerce, though every effort was taken to ensure that Ryukyu's connections to Japan be kept secret from China. Thus, the yukatchu and the general focus on Chinese studies throughout the small kingdom was crucial not only for the direct political and economic reasons, but to attaining those ends through maintaining culturally Chinese appearances. Towards
3193-413: The history of Japan against racial or ethnic groups. According to census statistics in 2018, 97.8% of Japan's population are Japanese, with the remainder being foreign nationals residing in Japan. The number of foreign workers has increased dramatically in recent years, due to the aging population and a shrinking labor force. A news article in 2018 suggests that approximately 1 out of 10 people among
Yukatchu - Misplaced Pages Continue
3296-465: The passports of guest workers in Japan, particularly unskilled laborers. In the early 20th century, driven by an ideology of Japanese nationalism and in the name of national unity, the Japanese government identified and forcefully assimilated marginalized populations, which included indigenous Ryukyuans , Ainu , and other underrepresented groups, imposing assimilation programs in language, culture and religion. Japan considers these ethnic groups as
3399-494: The yukatchu scholars, the two terms do not truly share the same connotations. Similarly, Gregory Smits points out that while "noble" and "aristocrat" are commonly used to refer to yukatchu in English-language texts, these terms too have particular connotations based on their European origins which do not truly apply to the Ryukyuan case. The Aji constituted the true nobility. Ryukyu Kingdom The Ryukyu Kingdom
3502-526: The yukatchu , and elements of the royal government itself, to cut down on the extravagance of their festivals and ceremonies. Largely successful in immediate economic terms, the evolving nature of the aristocratic class was something much more difficult to control. By 1700 or so, thirty years after the end of Shō Shōken's time, the yukatchu had developed truly into an aristocratic class, defining themselves by birth, by their rankings, wealth, and family name, more so than by their education or intellect. Sai On ,
3605-448: The 1980s required adoption of a Japanese name for citizenship. Partially for this reason, many Zainichi did not obtain Japanese citizenship as they saw the process as humiliating. Although more Zainichi are becoming Japanese citizens, issues of identity remain complicated. Even those who do not choose to become Japanese citizens often use Japanese names to avoid discrimination, and live their lives as if they were Japanese. This
3708-508: The 1980s. Many found jobs as English conversation teachers, but others were employed in various professional fields such as finance and business. Others have arrived as the Japanese government adopted a policy to give scholarships to large numbers of foreign students to study at Japanese universities. Although some have become permanent residents or even naturalized citizens, they are generally perceived as short-term visitors and treated as outsiders in Japanese society. South Sakhalin , which
3811-407: The Ainu as an indigenous group occurred over a century later on June 6, 2008, as a result of a resolution passed by the government of Japan , which recognized both their cultural differences and their past struggles. The Ryukyuan people lived in an independent kingdom until it became a vassal of Japan's Satsuma Domain in 1609. The kingdom, however, retained a degree of autonomy until 1872 when
3914-592: The Aji to leave their respective Magiri and move to Shuri . He confiscated weapons from commoners and Yukatchu who weren't part of the Ryukyuan military to lower the possibility of rebellion. The second time that the Yukatchu were disarmed was after the invasion of 1609 by Satsuma Domain , which prohibited the carrying of weapons by the Yukatchu. The Yukatchu were not completely without weapons however. Historians in Okinawa have recovered documents that state that Satsuma outlawed
4017-958: The Japan-Korean Annexation Treaty was established and it stated that Koreans would be granted Japanese citizenship by law because Korea was annexed by Japan. During World War II, the Japanese government established the National Mobilization Law, Following World War II, Koreans decided to illegally participate in the Post-World War II rebuilding of Japan because of the discrimination which they were being subjected to, both politically and economically; they were treated unfairly and paid low wages in Japan. Zainichi (resident in Japan) Koreans are permanent residents of Japan registered as Joseon ( Korean : 조선 , Japanese: Chōsen ( 朝鮮 ) ) or South Korean nationality. Joseon
4120-656: The Ming imperial palace. Emperor Yongle said that the boys who were castrated were innocent and did not deserve castration, and he returned them to Ryukyu, and instructed the kingdom not to send eunuchs again. These three principalities (tribal federations led by major chieftains) battled, and Chūzan emerged victorious. The Chūzan leaders were officially recognized by Ming dynasty China as the rightful kings over those of Nanzan and Hokuzan, thus lending great legitimacy to their claims. The ruler of Chūzan passed his throne to King Hashi; Hashi conquered Hokuzan in 1416 and Nanzan in 1429, uniting
4223-504: The Qing any reason for military action against Japan, the king was released two years later and the Ryukyu Kingdom regained a degree of autonomy. However, the Satsuma domain seized control over some territory of the Ryukyu Kingdom, notably the Amami-Ōshima island group, which was incorporated into the Satsuma domain and remains a part of Kagoshima Prefecture, not Okinawa Prefecture. The kingdom
Yukatchu - Misplaced Pages Continue
4326-576: The Ryukyu Kingdom to aid in his campaign to conquer Korea . If successful, Hideyoshi intended to then move against China. As the Ryukyu Kingdom was a tributary state of the Ming dynasty , the request was refused. The Tokugawa shogunate that emerged following Hideyoshi's fall authorized the Shimazu family — feudal lords of the Satsuma domain (present-day Kagoshima Prefecture )—to send an expeditionary force to conquer
4429-734: The Ryukyu Kingdom was then Ryukyu Domain . In 1879, the Meiji government abolished the Ryukyu Domain and created Okinawa Prefecture , annexing the former kingdom. Because the Imperial Decree issued in Meiji 8th year (1875) has not been complied with, the Government was compelled to abolish the feudal clan. The former feudal Lord, his family and kin will be accorded princely treatment, and the persons of citizens, Ryūkyū Samure, their hereditary stipends, property and business interests will be dealt with in
4532-425: The Ryukyu Kingdom would thrive as a key player in maritime trade with Southeast and East Asia. Central to the kingdom's maritime activities was the continuation of the tributary relationship with Ming dynasty China, begun by Chūzan in 1372, and enjoyed by the three Okinawan kingdoms which followed it. China provided ships for Ryukyu's maritime trade activities, allowed a limited number of Ryukyuans to study at
4635-785: The Ryukyuan caste system and at times seeing Okinawans as inferior Japanese . Though, around the time of the creation of the Okinawa Prefecture, some Yukatchu were calling themselves "Samure"; the word derives from the Japanese term " Samurai ". Shōshin Nagamine (recipient of the Fifth Class Order of the Rising Sun from the Emperor of Japan) states in his book The Essence of Okinawan Karate-Do , on pg. 21 The Okinawa Prefectural Government in recent years has tried to clarify misunderstandings by
4738-470: The Ryukyuan peasantry, and efforts were made to remove the nobles from power. For this reason, and others, many yukatchu fled to Fujian in China. The third governor, Michitoshi Iwamura , largely reversed this policy, supporting the maintenance of stipends for high-ranking yukatchu , retaining experienced bureaucrats in the administration of the prefecture , and lending economic aid to those without stipends. As
4841-506: The Ryukyus. The subsequent invasion took place in 1609, but Satsuma still allowed the Ryukyu Kingdom to find itself in a period of "dual subordination" to Japan and China, wherein Ryukyuan tributary relations were maintained with both the Tokugawa shogunate and the Chinese court. Occupation occurred fairly quickly, with some fierce fighting, and King Shō Nei was taken prisoner to Kagoshima and later to Edo (modern-day Tokyo). To avoid giving
4944-561: The Satsuma daimyō , and the shogunate—to make Ryukyu seem as much a distinctive and foreign country as possible. Japanese were prohibited from visiting Ryukyu without shogunal permission, and the Ryukyuans were forbidden from adopting Japanese names, clothes, or customs. They were even forbidden from divulging their knowledge of the Japanese language during their trips to Edo; the Shimazu family, daimyōs of Satsuma, gained great prestige by putting on
5047-481: The Satsuma domain, with the blessing of the Tokugawa shogunate, used the trade relations of the kingdom to continue to maintain trade relations with China. Considering that Japan had previously severed ties with most European countries except the Dutch , such trade relations proved especially crucial to both the Tokugawa shogunate and Satsuma domain, which would use its power and influence, gained in this way, to help overthrow
5150-577: The Turkish embassy in Tokyo in October 2015 between Kurds and Turks in Japan which began after a Kurdish party flag was shown at the embassy. Beginning in spring 2023, there was a significant increase in anti-Kurdish Japanese posts on the social media platform X. This was possibly fueled by Turkish people posting in Japanese on the platform. Kurds have reported receiving death threats and demands for their expulsion from
5253-469: The West as to the history and development of Karate in Okinawa. The Okinawa Prefectural Government English and Japanese website, Karate and martial arts with weaponry, states that Karate was a secret of the Yukatchu. At the beginning of the 17th century, around the time of the invasion of Ryukyu by the Japanese feudal domain of Satsuma , Kumemura and its community of Chinese scholars had deteriorated drastically;
SECTION 50
#17328907301615356-412: The Yukatchu class lost a major source of income in 1903, when massive peasant protest sparked land reforms and the abolition of peasant taxes that sustained the Yukatchu. Many Yukatchu found themselves having to reveal their secret unarmed fighting techniques to commoners for income and to keep some element of status. Many Okinawan Karate styles list in their genealogy Karate masters of the Yukatchu class in
5459-531: The accompanying preferential treatment of the Ming Court towards Ryukyu, allowed the kingdom to flourish and prosper for roughly 150 years. In the late 16th century, however, the kingdom's commercial prosperity fell into decline. The rise of the wokou threat among other factors led to the gradual loss of Chinese preferential treatment; the kingdom also suffered from increased maritime competition from Portuguese traders . Around 1590, Toyotomi Hideyoshi asked
5562-555: The bottom of Japan's feudal order , are sometimes included. There are also a number of smaller ethnic communities in Japan with a much shorter history. According to the United Nations' 2008 Diène report, communities most affected by racism and xenophobia in Japan include: Since the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1876 and up to World War II, Koreans sought asylum and educational opportunities that were available in Japan. In 1910,
5665-416: The bureaucrats of Shuri; no longer was Kumemura the sole, or arguably even the primary, center of classical learning in Ryukyu. Ultimately, the kingdom did not remain independent long enough for this decline to reach its full potential. When Ryukyu was formally annexed by Japan in 1879, Shigenori Uesugi , the second appointed governor of the new territory, accused the yukatchu class as a whole of oppressing
5768-563: The calculation of Rudolph Rummel , a total of 5.4 million Koreans were also conscripted into forced labor and shipped throughout the Japanese Empire . He estimates that 60,000 Koreans died during forced labor in places such as Manchuria and Sakhalin . During the Japanese rule of Korea, the Japanese government implemented a policy of cultural assimilation. Korean culture was suppressed, artistic and literary works that opposed Japanese rule were subjected to censorship and prohibition, and
5871-548: The complete annexation by Japan, but the Ryukyuan King forbade the Yukatchu from fighting the annexation. Ryukyu submitted to Japan's annexation plans and 300 lords, 2,000 aristocratic families and the king were removed from their positions of power. However, to avoid an armed revolt in Okinawa, as had happened in Japan, special ceremonies were performed for the Yukatchu class, where they were permitted to honorably accept defeat and ritually cut off their hair (top-knot). In Okinawa
5974-408: The context of foreigners being a potential source of unrest in the aftermath of an earthquake, the foreign community complained. Historically, the word has often been used pejoratively and Ishihara's statement brought images of the massacre of Koreans by civilians and police alike after the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake to mind. Therefore, the use of the term in context of potential rioting by foreigners
6077-525: The country during the Jeju uprising in the First Republic of South Korea . Though most migrants returned to Korea, GHQ estimates in 1946 indicated that approximately 650,000 Koreans remained in Japan. After World War II, the Korean community in Japan was split between allegiance to South Korea ( Mindan ) and North Korea ( Chongryon ). The last major wave of Korean migration to Japan started after South Korea
6180-479: The country. The Burakumin group within Japan is ethnically Japanese; however, they are considered of lower status and lower class standing in comparison to other ethnicities in Japan. They worked as primarily farmers and were considered peasants on the social hierarchy pyramid. Post-World War, the Burakumin group was heavily dissociated from society as the abolishment of the feudal caste system did not put an end to
6283-438: The crime rate in Tokyo is based on reported rather than actual crimes. A significant number of apartments, and some motels, night clubs, brothels, sex parlours and public baths in Japan have put up signs stating that foreigners are not allowed, or that they must be accompanied by a Japanese person to enter. In February 2002 plaintiffs sued a Hokkaido bathhouse in district court pleading racial discrimination, and on November 11
SECTION 60
#17328907301616386-408: The degree to which this entire class of people was supported by the government is far from insignificant, and serves as an important sign of the government's priorities and philosophy. In keeping good diplomatic and economic relations with China, the yukatchu acted not only to their own benefit and that of the Ryukyu royal government, but to the advantage of Satsuma and the Japanese central government,
6489-487: The division of Korea or sympathized with North Korea maintained their Joseon nationality because people are not allowed to register North Korean nationality. Most Zainichi came to Japan from Korea under Japanese rule between 1910 and 1945. A large proportion of this immigration is said to be the result of Korean landowners and workers losing their land and livelihood due to Japanese land and production confiscation initiatives and migrating to Japan for work. According to
6592-420: The early stages of the style. Warfare, law enforcement, and fighting systems were the primary business of the warrior class before the turn of the seventeenth century. Peasants, who often had to perform manual labor for eighteen hours a day to pay taxes to the upper classes and sustain themselves, did not have the energy, time or financial resources to practice the warrior arts. The warrior class, however, which
6695-589: The end of the 15th century, and by 1571 the Amami Ōshima Islands, to the north near Kyūshū , were incorporated into the kingdom as well. While the kingdom's political system was adopted and the authority of Shuri recognized, in the Amami Ōshima Islands, the kingdom's authority over the Sakishima Islands to the south remained for centuries at the level of a tributary - suzerain relationship. For nearly two hundred years,
6798-436: The end of the 17th century, major reforms were encouraged by sessei (chief minister) Shō Shōken . By this point, the forced revival of the community pushed through decades earlier had been too successful, and had led to the creation of an aristocracy which led a fairly overindulgent, extravagant lifestyle, which had a noticeably negative effect on the overall prosperity and well-being of the kingdom. Shō Shōken thus encouraged
6901-570: The former leader of the Democratic Party , is known to be the most famous mixed Taiwanese-Japanese politician. In 2000, the then governor of Tokyo Shintaro Ishihara insulted the Taiwanese, referring to them as Sangokujin : The Ainu are an indigenous group mainly living in Hokkaidō , with some also living in modern-day Russia. At present, the official Japanese government estimate of the population
7004-404: The island and the Ryukyu had paid tribute to China for hundreds of years, and the Chinese reserved certain trade rights for them in an amicable and beneficial relationship. Japan ordered tributary relations to end in 1875 after the tribute mission of 1874 was perceived as a show of submission to China. In 1872, Emperor Meiji unilaterally declared that the kingdom was then Ryukyu Domain . At
7107-439: The island of Okinawa for the first time, and founded the first Shō dynasty. Hashi was granted the surname "Shō" (Chinese: 尚 ; pinyin: Shàng ) by the Ming emperor in 1421, becoming known as Shō Hashi (Chinese: 尚巴志 ; pinyin: Shàng Bāzhì ). Shō Hashi adopted the Chinese hierarchical court system, built Shuri Castle and the town as his capital, and constructed Naha harbor. When in 1469 King Shō Toku , who
7210-456: The islands were officially annexed by Japan and restructured as Okinawa Prefecture in 1879. They are now Japan's largest minority group, with 1.3 million living in Okinawa and 300,000 living in other areas of Japan. The Okinawan language , the most widely spoken Ryukyuan language , is related to Japanese, the two being in the Japonic languages . Ryukyuan languages were heavily suppressed through
7313-560: The issuance of these permits, it is logical to infer that there were restrictions on the Ryukyu Samure carrying their weapons in public, but it is also clear evidence that these weapons were not confiscated by the Satsuma. Undoubtedly the Yukatchu class was the hardest hit by the changing times. They were the only class that did not have a clear place in the modern world. In 1872, the Japanese Meiji government unilaterally proclaimed that
7416-672: The kingdom for Southeast Asian sappanwood , rhino horn, tin , sugar, iron, ambergris , Indian ivory , and Arabian frankincense . Altogether, 150 voyages between the kingdom and Southeast Asia on Ryukyuan ships were recorded in the Rekidai Hōan , an official record of diplomatic documents compiled by the kingdom, as having taken place between 1424 and the 1630s, with 61 of them bound for Siam, 10 for Malacca, 10 for Pattani, and 8 for Java, among others. The Chinese policy of haijin ( 海禁 , "sea bans"), limiting trade with China to tributary states and those with formal authorization, along with
7519-515: The kingdom in 1392, during the Hongwu emperor 's reign. Many Ryukyuan officials were descended from these Chinese immigrants, being born in China or having Chinese grandfathers. They assisted the Ryukyuans in advancing their technology and diplomatic relations. On 30 January 1406, the Yongle Emperor expressed horror when the Ryukyuans castrated some of their own children to become eunuchs to serve in
7622-612: The largest legal minority in Japan (according to the 2018 statistics as shown above). An investigator from the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) said, racism against Koreans and Chinese is deeply rooted in Japan because of history and culture. There are a number of Taiwanese people that reside in Japan due to Taiwan's history as being a colony of Japan from 1895 to 1945. Renhō (born Hsieh Lien-fang ( Chinese : 謝蓮舫 ; pinyin : Xiè Liánfǎng ; Japanese pronunciation : Sha Renhō )),
7725-487: The last days of Japanese rule. Koreans were forced to take Japanese names from 1940. However, Koreans resisted this policy, and by the end of the 1940s, it was almost completely undone. Thousands of ethnic Koreans in Japan were massacred as false rumors spread that Koreans were rioting, looting, or poisoning wells in the aftermath of the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake in the Kantō Massacre . Many Korean refugees also came to
7828-493: The latter term occasionally perceived to be pejorative and tended to be avoided by mass media . First large influx of such people have started in the 1980s, as the Japanese economy was growing at a high rate. During the 1980s and 1990s, the Keidanren business lobbying organization advocated a policy of allowing South Americans of Japanese ancestry (mainly Brazilians and Peruvians ) to work in Japan, as Japan's industries faced
7931-548: The law and providing military defense to the nation, Ryukyu Kingdom. The specific rank of a Yukatchu was noted by the color of his hat. Ryukyuan Caste System: The Yukatchu class was also responsible for the development of and training methodology of their martial knowledge called Ti (Te). Later those knowledgeable in Ti’s methods would guide development of modern-day Karate in the educational system of Okinawa. The Ryukyuan Yukatchu kept their family martial knowledge secret, passing down
8034-412: The methods proven reliable in family information transmitted directly to only one heir per generation, usually the eldest son. Each family retaining their unique perspective of knowledge in a perpetual process of living contribution with refinement. The first time that the Yukatchu's weapons were confiscated was during the reign of King Shō Shin (1477–1526), who centralized the Ryukyu Kingdom by forcing
8137-565: The most damaging events for the stability and importance of the Kumemura yukatchu community was the establishment and gradual development of academies, and eventually a university, in Shuri. Though Kumemura had an institution of its own, the Meirindō , which trained diplomats for work in China, the unique purpose for which the yukatchu had been established nearly two centuries earlier was being challenged by
8240-475: The most part. One group of Shuri yukatchu , led by Heshikiya Chōbin , spoke out against the strict, repressive Confucian system of ethics, advocating a more natural, Buddhistic attitude, and exclaiming the importance of love and equality among all people. The number of yukatchu increased dramatically again at the end of the 18th century, as families who contributed to the support of the impoverished government were accorded noble status in exchange. Perhaps one of
8343-406: The national and local governments, alleging racial profiling through illegal police questioning. The plaintiffs asserted that they experienced repeated distress from police questioning based on their appearance and ethnicity, which they claimed violated the constitution. They sought recognition of the illegality of racial profiling and 3 million yen ($ 20,250) in damages each. The lawsuit emerged during
8446-518: The ownership and sale of firearms in Okinawa, but the Yukatchu class and above were allowed to keep firearms that were already in their family's possession. Toshihiro Oshiro , historian and Okinawan martial arts master, states: There is further documentation that in 1613 the Satsuma issued permits for the Ryukyu Samure to travel with their personal swords (tachi and wakizashi) to the smiths and polishers in Kagushima, Japan for maintenance and repair. From
8549-466: The royal bureaucracy, and in diplomatic relations with China. Though tribute missions to China were formally made once every two years, journeys between Ryukyu and Fujian were in fact much more frequent. An embassy was established in Fujian where yukatchu lived and studied; a small number would come and go every few years, so the individual residents at this trading post were constantly changing. In addition,
8652-506: The royal government, along with that of Satsuma, then took action to revive it, and with it the aristocratic and intellectual culture of Ryukyu as a whole. The best and brightest of Ryukyu were invited to settle in Kumemura, pursue Chinese studies, and establish noble houses. Thus, the yukatchu class was formally created around 1650, and divided into a number of ranks and titles from high to low: ueekata (親方), peekumi (親雲上), satunushi (里之子) and shii (子), each rank being accompanied by
8755-465: The same time, the appearance of independence was maintained for diplomatic reasons with Qing China until the Meiji government abolished the Ryukyu Kingdom when the islands were incorporated as Okinawa Prefecture on 27 March 1879. The Amami-Ōshima island group which had been integrated into Satsuma Domain became a part of Kagoshima Prefecture . The last king of Ryukyu was forced to relocate to Tokyo , and
8858-498: The same year by Japanese was 546,934 cases. Within these statistics, Japanese committed 6,925 violent crimes, of which 2,531 were arson or rape, while foreigners committed 323 violent crimes, but only 42 cases are classified as arson or rape. Foreigners were more likely to commit crimes in groups: About 61.5% of crimes committed by foreigners had one or more accomplice, while only 18.6% of crimes committed by Japanese were in groups. Japanese commit more violent crimes than foreigners. By
8961-488: The shogunate in the 1860s. Ryukyuan missions to Edo for Tokugawa Shōgun . The Ryukyuan king was a vassal of the Satsuma daimyō , after Shimazu's Ryukyu invasion in 1609, the Satsuma Clan established a governmental office's branch known as Zaibankaiya (在番仮屋) or Ufukaiya (大仮屋) at Shuri in 1628, and became the base of Ryukyu domination for 250 years, until 1872. The Satsuma Domain's residents can be roughly compared to
9064-461: The shogunate, in trading with China. Ryukyu was a tributary state of China, and since Japan had no formal diplomatic relations with China, it was essential that China not realize that Ryukyu was controlled by Japan. Thus, Satsuma—and the shogunate—was obliged to be mostly hands-off in terms of not visibly or forcibly occupying Ryukyu or controlling the policies and laws there. The situation benefited all three parties involved—the Ryukyu royal government,
9167-518: The social discrimination that they faced within restricting housing systems; movements and protests have been maintained throughout the years as they fight to receive and equal status as their peers in regard to access to certain educational, housing, and social benefits and citizenship rights. In order to gain attention to the problems and injustices that they experience, groups such as the militant style, Buraka Liberation League, which uses presentations and speaking to prove and explain their frustrations to
9270-633: The younger population residing in Tokyo are foreign nationals. According to the CIA World Factbook , Japanese make up 98.1% of the population, Chinese 0.5%, and Korean 0.4%, with the remaining 1% representing all other ethnic groups. Japan lacks any law which prohibits racial, ethnic, or religious discrimination. The country also has no national human rights institutions. Non-Japanese individuals in Japan often face human rights violations that Japanese citizens may not. In recent years, non-Japanese media has reported that Japanese firms frequently confiscate
9373-470: Was a grandson of Shō Hashi, died without a male heir, a palatine servant declared he was Toku's adopted son and gained Chinese investiture. This pretender, Shō En , began the Second Shō dynasty. Ryukyu's golden age occurred during the reign of Shō Shin , the second king of that dynasty, who reigned from 1478 to 1526. The kingdom extended its authority over the southernmost islands in the Ryukyu archipelago by
9476-653: Was a kingdom in the Ryukyu Islands from 1429 to 1879. It was ruled as a tributary state of imperial Ming China by the Ryukyuan monarchy , who unified Okinawa Island to end the Sanzan period , and extended the kingdom to the Amami Islands and Sakishima Islands . The Ryukyu Kingdom played a central role in the maritime trade networks of medieval East Asia and Southeast Asia despite its small size. The Ryukyu Kingdom became
9579-543: Was a political debate amongst Japanese leaders about whether or not to continue the oppression of the Ryukyuan languages, although the argument for assimilation prevailed. During the Battle of Okinawa , the Japanese military commander sought to suppress spying by banning the speaking of Okinawan , which is often unintelligible to nonresidents. As a result, around one thousand civilians were killed by soldiers. There are still some children learning Ryukyuan languages natively, but this
9682-509: Was adjacent to the major port of Naha , and Kume-mura, the center of traditional Chinese education. These sites and Chūzan as a whole would continue to form the center of the Ryukyu Kingdom until its abolition. Many Chinese people moved to Ryukyu to serve the government or to engage in business during this period . At the request of the Ryukyuan King, the Ming Chinese sent thirty-six Chinese families from Fujian to manage oceanic dealings in
9785-757: Was annexed by Japan in 1910, therefore Zainichi Koreans with Joseon citizenship are de facto stateless. After World War II, two million Koreans living in Japan were granted a temporary Joseon nationality under the US military government (because there was no government in Korea then). However, the meaning of Joseon nationality became vague as Korea was divided by the United States and the Soviet Union, and in 1948 North and South Korea each established their own government. Some obtained South Korean citizenship later, but others who opposed
9888-579: Was around 5.5% in 2008. According to a survey conducted by the Tokyo Bar Association, more than 60% of 2,000 respondents from foreign backgrounds reported being interrogated by the police. Among those questioned, about 77% stated that the encounters seemed to lack any apparent reason other than their foreign appearance. The former head of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Emergency Public Safety Task Force, Hiroshi Kubo, published
9991-491: Was described by Hayashi Shihei in Sangoku Tsūran Zusetsu , which was published in 1785. In 1655, tribute relations between Ryukyu and Qing dynasty (the China's dynasty that followed Ming after 1644) were formally approved by the shogunate. This was seen to be justified, in part, because of the desire to avoid giving Qing any reason for military action against Japan. Since Ming China prohibited trade with Japan,
10094-545: Was devastated by the Korean War in the 1950s. Most notably, the large number of refugees were from Jejuans escaping from the massacres on Jeju Island by the authoritarian South Korean government. Zainichi who identify themselves with Chongryon are also an important money source for North Korea. One estimate suggests that the total annual transfers from Japan to North Korea may exceed US$ 200 million. Japanese law does not allow dual citizenship for adults over 22 and until
10197-672: Was founded to fight for Uilta rights and the preservation of Uilta traditions in 1975 by Dahinien Gendānu . The Ōbeikei , living in the Bonin Islands , have a varied ethnic background, including European, Micronesian and Kanak . Although protection and refugee status has been granted to those seeking asylum from Myanmar, the same has not been offered to refugee Kurds in Japan from Turkey. Without this protection and status, these Kurds who have fled from Turkey due to persecution are generally living in destitution, with no education and having no legal residency status. A clash took place outside
10300-805: Was given a compensating kazoku rank as Marquis Shō Tai . Many royalist supporters fled to China. The king's death in 1901 diminished the historic connections with the former kingdom. With the abolition of the aristocracy after World War II, the Sho family continues to live in Tokyo. 26°12′N 127°41′E / 26.200°N 127.683°E / 26.200; 127.683 Ethnic issues in Japan Racism in Japan ( 人種主義 , jinshushugi ) comprises negative attitudes and views on race or ethnicity which are held by various people and groups in Japan, and have been reflected in discriminatory laws, practices and action (including violence) at various times in
10403-482: Was known as the Three Kingdoms, or Sanzan ( 三山 , Three Mountains) period. Hokuzan, which constituted much of the northern half of the island, was the largest in terms of land area and military strength but was economically the weakest of the three. Nanzan constituted the southern portion of the island. Chūzan lay in the center of the island and was economically the strongest. Its political capital at Shuri , Nanzan
10506-744: Was once part of Japan as Karafuto Prefecture , had indigenous populations of Nivkhs and Uilta ( Orok ). Like the Karafuto Koreans but unlike the Ainu, they were thus not included in the evacuation of Japanese nationals after the Soviet invasion in 1945. Some Nivkhs and Uilta who served in the Imperial Japanese Army were held in Soviet work camps ; after court cases in the late 1950s and 1960s, they were recognised as Japanese nationals and thus permitted to migrate to Japan. Most settled around Abashiri, Hokkaidō . The Uilta Kyokai [ ja ]
10609-503: Was sustained by peasant taxes, could afford the luxury of sending the first born male child of a warrior family to be trained in Ti and other warrior arts. Okinawan documents will often state that Ti or Kara-Ti was only practiced by the Yukatchu. However, there are early twentieth-century Japanese documents that mention this secret fighting style as being practiced by the peasants of Okinawa. The disconnect often comes from Japanese ignorance of
#160839