The are a Japonic-speaking East Asian ethnic group indigenous to the Ryukyu Islands, which stretch from the island of Kyushu to the island of Taiwan. Administratively, most Ryukyuans live in either Okinawa Prefecture or Kagoshima Prefecture within Japan. They speak the Ryukyuan languages, considered to be one of the two branches of the Japonic language family, the other being Japanese and its dialects (Hachijō is sometimes considered by linguists to constitute a third branch).
the are a jAPOnic-spEaKInG eAst aSIan EThnIC GroUp iNdigenoUs TO ThE rYuKYu iSlanDs, whIch strEtcH FrOM tHe IslANd of kyUshu To the islaNd oF taiwan. AdminIstRAtiVeLY, mOst RyUkyUaNs liVe In eiTHer OkINAwa pREfECtUre oR kagOShiMa PREfECture wiThiN japan. they SpeaK the ryukYuAn LanguAgEs, ConSidered To be oNe of The twO branChES Of the JaPonic lAnGuAge FamiLy, the otHEr being JaPAneSE AnD ItS dIaleCts (haChijō iS sometimEs CoNsidErEd by LinGuisTs TO ConstITUte a thirD BRanch).