Southern Amami-Oshima in Japan

The Southern Amami-Oshima have only been reported in Japan
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Kunigami of Japan are made up of seven closely related people groups living in the Ryukyu Islands. This small chain of islands, which includes Okinawa, is located to the southwest of Japan, between Kyushu (the southern tip of Japan) and northeastern Taiwan. The Ryukyuan peoples are of Japanese and southeast Asian descent. Their languages vary from island to island and their dialects from village to village. Although their dialects are all quite similar to Japanese, the tribes are not able to understand one another. Some of the once dominant native languages spoken include Northern and Southern Amami-oshima, Toku-no-shima, Oki-no-erabu, Southern Ryukyuan, and Yayeyama. This profile focuses on the Southern Amam-Oshima, but what is said about them also applies to the other Kunigami peoples. All of their languages are being replaced by Japanese among the younger generation.
In times past, while under subjection to China and Japan, these people learned to be peaceful and accepting, while considered "backward" by others.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Long ago, the Kunigami lived as independent merchants who sailed to China, Japan, and other Asian seaports. They are now dependent on outside powers and factors. Some work in the tourist industry, find work for soldiers on American military bases, or sell traditional Okinawan textiles or cash crops. Most Kunigami produce textiles or grow crops. They raise sweet potatoes and rice, their staple foods, as well as other cash crops.
The family is the center of Southern Amami-Oshima life. Often entire families tend the fields together. The people work hard and long and have very little spare time. In general, a Southern Amami-Oshima individual does not like being alone. Any amount of free time they can afford is spent with their families or friends. During celebrations, the men stay separated from the women, usually drinking sake (rice wine). According to family tradition, a firstborn son has the greatest financial advantage. After marriage, the firstborn son and his wife live in his father's house until his parents have died. However, long before that time, he is responsible for managing the rest of the family and its finances. In times past, the fear of "dishonoring one's family" kept crime under control in the smaller communities.
Southern Amami-Oshima children enter school at eight or nine years of age and continue until they reach about sixteen. Today, there are universities in the island region, and they have access to Japanese colleges as well. Formerly, their goals included acquiring an abundance of livestock, food, and friends, and having as large a family as possible. Since the Japanese took control of the islands in 1879, these goals have changed. The Japanese introduced a system of education that discouraged students from speaking their own languages and encouraged them to speak Japanese. The students were even punished for speaking their languages in class. Consequently, the Kunigami languages have been lost as the young have sought to identify with something they consider greater than themselves: the world class nation of Japan.
Progress through education and contact with the outside world has changed their lives dramatically. Many have moved to larger islands or other countries such as Brazil and the United States in search of jobs and better living conditions.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most sources consider the Southern Amami-Oshima to be Buddhist; however, traditional shamanistic practices are still prevalent. This means that they believe in many unseen gods, demons, and ancestral spirits. They believe the spirits of their ancestors live in the tombs where they were buried. The people believe that these spirits must be regularly invited back into the lives of their descendants or they will no longer exist. For this reason, each person believes himself/herself to be an extension of the life of the family.
The people also believe that unseen powers known as kami control the ancestral spirits and other areas, including the sea and land. The ancestral spirits are honored on a community level, and the kami are also worshipped privately in the homes. They believe that if the kami are not appeased, they can bring harm to a family or individual. For this reason they seek the guidance of the kami before making an important decision.
The father of the house maintains the religious rituals in the home and cares for the ancestral tombs. The women serve as "mediators" between the kami and the people.


What Are Their Needs?

The Southern Amami-Oshima and other Kunigami peoples need the self-respect that comes from a relationship with the King of kings. They need to know they have much worth in the eyes of their maker.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to somehow get through to Southern Amami-Oshima elders so they can open the door to allow the King of kings to enter their lives.
There are believers among some of the Kunigami people. Pray they will take Christ to the others.
Pray for a movement to Christ among every Kunigami people.


Scripture Prayers for the Amami-Oshima, Southern in Japan.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Amami-Oshima, Southern
People Name in Country Amami-Oshima, Southern
Natural Name Southern Amami-Oshima
Alternate Names Amami-Oshima; Southern Amami-Oshima
Population this Country 1,700
Population all Countries 1,700
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 15031
ROP3 Code 109465
ROP25 Code 300238
ROP25 Name Amami-Oshima
Country Japan
Region Asia, Northeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Kagoshima Prefecture, north Okinawa, south Amami-Oshima, Kakeroma, Yoro, and Uke islands.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Japan
Region Asia, Northeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Kagoshima Prefecture, north Okinawa, south Amami-Oshima, Kakeroma, Yoro, and Uke islands..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Primary Religion: Buddhism
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
97.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.50 %)
3.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Amami-Oshima, Southern (1,700 speakers)
Language Code ams   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Amami-Oshima, Southern (1,700 speakers)
Language Code ams   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Amami-Oshima, Southern

Primary Language:  Amami-Oshima, Southern

Bible Translation Status:  Unspecified

Resource Type Resource Name Source
None reported  
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Miki Saiki - Shutterstock  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source Bethany World Prayer Center  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



Joshua Project logo    Joshua Project    Copyright © 2024