The are the
indigenous peoples of the
Ryukyu Islands between the islands of
Kyushu and
Taiwan. The generally recognized subgroups of Ryukyuans are
Amamians,
Okinawans,
Miyakoans,
Yaeyamans, and
Yonagunians. Politically, they live in either
Okinawa Prefecture or
Kagoshima Prefecture. Their languages make up the
Ryukyuan language family, one of the two branches of the
Japonic language family, the other one being Japanese and its dialects. Okinawans are Japan's largest minority group, with 1.3 million living in Okinawa. Another 300,000 are dispersed outside Japan, mostly in Hawaii.