Changes

In the 15th to 16th centuries, the [[Shimazu clan]] of [[Satsuma province]] began to expand into the islands to the south of [[Kyushu]], just as the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]] expanded to the north of [[Okinawa Island]]. Ryûkyû conquered much of the [[Amami Islands]] over the course of the late 15th to early 16th centuries, and it was in the Tokaras that Ryûkyû and the Shimazu clashed. Gajashima would be the northernmost territory ever held by the Ryûkyû Kingdom.<ref>Gregory Smits. "[http://www.japanfocus.org/-Gregory-Smits/3409 Examining the Myth of Ryukyuan Pacifism]." ''The Asia-Pacific Journal'' 37-3-10 (September 13, 2010).</ref>

In the 15th to 16th centuries, the [[Shimazu clan]] of [[Satsuma province]] began to expand into the islands to the south of [[Kyushu]], just as the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]] expanded to the north of [[Okinawa Island]]. Ryûkyû conquered much of the [[Amami Islands]] over the course of the late 15th to early 16th centuries, and it was in the Tokaras that Ryûkyû and the Shimazu clashed. Gajashima would be the northernmost territory ever held by the Ryûkyû Kingdom.<ref>Gregory Smits. "[http://www.japanfocus.org/-Gregory-Smits/3409 Examining the Myth of Ryukyuan Pacifism]." ''The Asia-Pacific Journal'' 37-3-10 (September 13, 2010).</ref>

In the early modern period, the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]] maintained a policy of attempting to hide relations with Japan ([[Satsuma han]], specifically) from the [[Qing Dynasty|Qing]] court. Evidence of Japanese or otherwise outside influence or interaction was attributed to trade or interactions with "Takarajima" (lit. "treasure island[s]"), a reference to the Tokaras.<ref>Matsuda Mitsugu, ''The Government of the Kingdom of Ryukyu'', 1609-1872, Yui Publishing (2001), 60n34.</ref>

In the early modern period, Satsuma han maintained offices on each of the seven main Tokara Islands, including regular regional administrative offices, as well as a ''tsuguchi bansho'' which oversaw the ports, and an ''ikoku bansho'' which worked to guard against interactions with foreigners.<ref>Ono Masako, Tomita Chinatsu, Kanna Keiko, Taguchi Kei, "Shiryô shôkai Kishi Akimasa bunko Satsuyû kikô," ''Shiryôhenshûshitsu kiyô'' 31 (2006), 230.</ref>

 

Meanwhile, the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]] maintained a policy of attempting to hide relations with Japan (Satsuma han, specifically) from the [[Qing Dynasty|Qing]] court. Evidence of Japanese or otherwise outside influence or interaction was attributed to trade or interactions with "Takarajima" (lit. "treasure island[s]"), a reference to the Tokaras.<ref>Matsuda Mitsugu, ''The Government of the Kingdom of Ryukyu'', 1609-1872, Yui Publishing (2001), 60n34.</ref>

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