History
Yoronjima was initially part of the Ryūkyū Kingdom (now known synonymously as Okinawa) and the Yoron people continue to speak their own language, Yunnu Futuba (Yoron Language), a dialect of the Ryukyuan languages. Its basic grammar is similar to Japanese language, however, Yunnu Futuba has a wider range of sounds and an even stricter system of hierarchy for speech, with respectful suffixes and prefixes for elders and men being an integral part of the grammar and syntax of the language. Young adults can still speak Yunnu Futuba but children no longer learn the language or do not learn fluency, as standard Japanese is spoken at school and at work.
Yoronjima's modernization began primarily after the second World War, when many Okinawans swam the 20 km across open ocean to escape the Battle of Okinawa. The island first had electricity in the late 1960s, in time for the tourism boom as many Japanese, unable to go to Okinawa, vacationed in Yoronjima instead. The island still maintains close ties to Okinawan culture, despite being part of Kagoshima prefecture, with Eisa, a kind of Okinawa drumming and dancing style, still being popular for festivals such as the Sango Matsuri (Coral Festival), which is held every August on the island. Okinawa patterns and style of dress are also more common than that of mainland Japan.
Another difference from the mainland are cultural religious practices. Mainland Japanese practice both Shintoism and Buddhism, but the native culture of Yoron does not include the Buddhist elements seen on the mainland, and both weddings and funerals are practiced in the ancient Shinto tradition. Islanders still celebrate many ancient practices and festivals, with costumes and descriptions available at the Yoron Museum. There is also a replica of an ancient village, complete with thatched-roof huts, tools, palm-leaf textiles and other items on display at the Yoron Native Village. Thatched-roof huts still exist in use throughout the island.
An interesting cultural practice is Yoron Kenpo, which includes formalized speeches along with the consumption of sugar-based shōchū and an offering to the gods. This practice dates back to the Muromachi Period of Japanese history.
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