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The Ryukyu Islands: A New History from the Stone Age to the Present
The first comprehensive history of the Ryukyu Islands region in English.
The Ryukyu Islands between Japan and Taiwan consist of around 160 islands and are home to about 1.5 million inhabitants. Across the islands’ history, sea-lanes and trade patterns have connected them to the East China Sea region, giving them a unique vantage point on the region’s changes and making them a useful lens through which to view and understand those transformations. In this book, Gregory Smits marshals his expertise to canvass the environmental, political, and social history of this fascinating area, emphasizing the diversity of influences from China, Japan, and Korea that have shaped it. Smits begins by tracing the islands’ early history from the time of the oldest extant human remains, through massive inflows of settlers from Japan, until the emergence of a centralized state in the sixteenth century. He then traces the development of the Ryukyu Kingdom from the fifteenth to the nineteenth century, examining its major cultural formations and the interplay of local and external influences driving its evolution. Finally, Smits ushers readers to the modern era, from the end of the Ryukyu Kingdom in 1879 through World War II, the era of American military control, and on to the present. He concludes with their present-day status as a tourist destination affected by ongoing geopolitical, economic, and environmental challenges. Synthesizing decades of research, this book is an indispensable, comprehensive guide to the islands’ history for scholars and nonspecialists alike.
The Ryukyu Islands between Japan and Taiwan consist of around 160 islands and are home to about 1.5 million inhabitants. Across the islands’ history, sea-lanes and trade patterns have connected them to the East China Sea region, giving them a unique vantage point on the region’s changes and making them a useful lens through which to view and understand those transformations. In this book, Gregory Smits marshals his expertise to canvass the environmental, political, and social history of this fascinating area, emphasizing the diversity of influences from China, Japan, and Korea that have shaped it. Smits begins by tracing the islands’ early history from the time of the oldest extant human remains, through massive inflows of settlers from Japan, until the emergence of a centralized state in the sixteenth century. He then traces the development of the Ryukyu Kingdom from the fifteenth to the nineteenth century, examining its major cultural formations and the interplay of local and external influences driving its evolution. Finally, Smits ushers readers to the modern era, from the end of the Ryukyu Kingdom in 1879 through World War II, the era of American military control, and on to the present. He concludes with their present-day status as a tourist destination affected by ongoing geopolitical, economic, and environmental challenges. Synthesizing decades of research, this book is an indispensable, comprehensive guide to the islands’ history for scholars and nonspecialists alike.
- GenresHistory
488 pages, Paperback
Published December 3, 2025
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March 9, 2026
I waited for over 6 months to receive and read this book, and was not disappointed. This is a sweeping history and analysis of the Ryukyu Islands, encompassing thousands of years of history throughout the differing areas and eras of islands sadly made famous by the Pacific War.
Curious readers would expect this to be extremely academic and nothing more than boring if not already acquainted with terms like the “theatrical state.” Yet, it is a great achievement in readability and synthesis of a lifetime of research from Smits. His work dashes from sociology, anthropology, historiography, and the ever inescapable intricacies of pottery without seeming disjointed. The chapters are concise and fascinating, not to mention the plethora of mind maps or timelines illustrating complex concepts, or the humble critiques and observations on fellow scholars’ works.
Having done a large undergrad project on the role of the islands during the 16th century as well as the tragic battle of Okinawa, I was still happily surprised by the wealth of new and interesting information and insightful angles used by Smits to tackle his complex ideas. I was again and again led down new Wikipedia rabbit holes, or left questioning my own interpretations.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone interested in the islands’ history. Honestly, I wish this book had been a little longer, as it was such a treat of a read.
Curious readers would expect this to be extremely academic and nothing more than boring if not already acquainted with terms like the “theatrical state.” Yet, it is a great achievement in readability and synthesis of a lifetime of research from Smits. His work dashes from sociology, anthropology, historiography, and the ever inescapable intricacies of pottery without seeming disjointed. The chapters are concise and fascinating, not to mention the plethora of mind maps or timelines illustrating complex concepts, or the humble critiques and observations on fellow scholars’ works.
Having done a large undergrad project on the role of the islands during the 16th century as well as the tragic battle of Okinawa, I was still happily surprised by the wealth of new and interesting information and insightful angles used by Smits to tackle his complex ideas. I was again and again led down new Wikipedia rabbit holes, or left questioning my own interpretations.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone interested in the islands’ history. Honestly, I wish this book had been a little longer, as it was such a treat of a read.
Displaying 1 of 1 review