Bridging the Gap: Translation, Collaboration, and the Future of the History and Archaeology of the Ryukyu Islands

Tanya Lee

Despite a growing body of Japanese-language scholarship, English-language research on the history and archaeology of Okinawa and the Ryukyu Islands remains notably sparse and does not fully reflect current research. Contributions by scholars such as Richard Pearson and Gregory Smits, alongside translated works by Mamoru Akamine, Chiaki Katagiri, and Akito Shinzato, have provided valuable historical and material culture frameworks — yet there remains scope to build upon these foundations given the breadth and steady growth of ongoing research. This presentation argues for the need to close the gap between current Japanese-language research and the English language, through translation efforts, interdisciplinary and cross-cultural collaborations. The Ryukyu Islands occupy a significant position within the early modern maritime world, and scholars from across the region have engaged with its exchange networks and connectivity. Wider accessibility would broaden its educational reach and scholarly impact, fostering collaborative networks that open avenues for understanding the Ryukyu Islands’ place within maritime connectivity and exchange in the early modern world. The challenge is acute for the pre-Ryukyu Kingdom period, where the scarcity of textual sources demands reliance on archaeological evidence and necessitates collaboration across disciplines, such as maritime history, material culture studies, and environmental archaeology, as well as partnerships beyond Okinawa. Cross-cultural and interdisciplinary collaborations within the region are increasingly taking shape, yet these remain underrepresented in scholarly literature. By highlighting these gaps, this presentation argues that greater international engagement can better acknowledge regional research and integrate the history and archaeology of the Ryukyu Islands into international scholarly discourse.