The term "Ryukyuan" refers to the people, culture, and languages of the Ryukyu Islands, a chain of islands located southwest of Japan. The Ryukyuan people have a distinct cultural heritage that includes unique traditions, music, and dance, which differ from those of mainland Japan. The Ryukyuan languages are part of the Japonic language family and include several dialects, such as Okinawan and Amami. These languages are recognized as endangered due to the dominance of the Japanese language in education and media. Efforts are being made to preserve and revitalize Ryukyuan culture and languages.