The Ryukyu limestone cliff Manzamou is located almost in the center of the main island of Okinawa. The natural grass on the Ryukyu limestone plateau and the surroundin | Visit Okinawa Japan

The history of Okinawa—once the independent Ryukyu Kingdom (琉球)—is long, complex, and deeply intertwined with the regional dynamics of East Asia. Early Chinese historical records, including those from the Sui dynasty under Emperor Yang (隋煬帝, AD 604–618), describe the islands as inhabited communities that gradually entered China’s tributary system. For centuries, Ryukyu functioned as a tributary state to China, not Japan, maintaining stable diplomatic missions, cultural exchanges, and extensive m