Ryukyuan in Bolivia


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Ryukyuan are the indigenous peoples of the Ryukyu Islands. Traditionally, the people have a tightly knit family life and enjoy close personal friendships. They see themselves as bound by their home island and, especially among older people, will always consider themselves from Ryukyuan first and Japan second. They are among the longest-lived people in the world. In the late 1800s, a few Japanese, usually from Okinawa, emigrated to either Peru or Bolivia. Among these were the Ryukyu. They worked in mining, railroad construction or rubber plantations. After WWII, the Japanese and Bolivian governments worked together to establish two groups of immigrants from Japan to settle in Bolivia. One was mainland Japanese, and the other was Okinawan and Ryukyu. The latter grew soybeans and wheat.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Initially, the Ryukyu people spoke Japanese and learned Spanish. Today Ryukyu people who live in Bolivia are considered simply Japanese by the Bolivian majority. Their identity with the Ryukyu Islands will become weaker as time goes on. Every day they must communicate in Spanish and live in a Latin American cultural environment.


The Ryukyuan exist as a peaceful tribe which has always considered the arts and music as more honorable than combat skills.
What Are Their Beliefs?

Native Uchina (from the Ryukyuan Islands) religion places strong emphasis upon the role of the women in the community, with women holding positions as shamans and guardians of the home. Most of the younger generation are not serious adherents of this religion anymore, but many older people try to teach about the old ways, including dances and the language. As they blend with other cultures, the Ryukyuan people have adopted Roman Catholicism from the Bolivian majority. Others are more traditional; they are Buddhist or Shintoist like the Japanese. Some have clung to the Soka Gakkai Buddhist cult.


What Are Their Needs?

The Ryukyuan people do not have a legacy of understanding the ways of God as revealed through Moses, the prophets, and Jesus Christ.


Prayer Points

Pray that a strong movement to Jesus will bring Ryukyuan families and communities into a rich experience of God's blessings. A small number of the Ryukyuan people identify themselves as Christians. Pray they will be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. The Ryukuyan are known as a peaceful people and have always considered the arts and music as more honorable than combat skills. Pray these peaceful people will welcome the good news of Jesus as it comes to them in various forms.


Scripture Prayers for the Okinawan, Ryukyuan in Bolivia.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Okinawan, Ryukyuan
People Name in Country Okinawan, Ryukyuan
Natural Name Ryukyuan
Pronunciation ree-YOO-kyoo-un
Alternate Names Okinawan; Ryukyuan
Population this Country 2,600
Population all Countries 1,160,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 11136
ROP3 Code 101932
ROP25 Code 306294
ROP25 Name Okinawan
Country Bolivia
Region America, Latin
Continent South America
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Country Bolivia
Region America, Latin
Continent South America
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Map of Okinawan, Ryukyuan in Bolivia
Primary Religion: Buddhism
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
98.50 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.10 %)
1.50 %
Ethnic Religions
Unknown
Hinduism
Unknown
Islam
Unknown
Non-Religious
Unknown
Other / Small
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Primary Language Okinawan, Central (2,600 speakers)
Language Code ryu   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Okinawan, Central (2,600 speakers)
Language Code ryu   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Okinawan, Central

Primary Language:  Okinawan, Central

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1855-1858)
Bible-New Testament No
Bible-Complete No
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Film / Video Jesus Film Jesus Film Project
Photo Source Matt Watts - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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