Ryukyu Islands

STATUS: Former island group, technically part of Okinawa, under the jurisdiction of Japan. Okinawa and the Ryukyus are now again under Japanese control, and it's assumed that standard Japanese plates are in use.

PRONOUNCED: rYOO kyoo

CAPITAL: Naha

WORLD LOCATION: Islands off the coast of Japan

FIRST LICENSE PLATES IN USE: 1945

PLATES WERE: Officially issued, in a separate series from the military Okinawa plates. From 1945 through 1950, plates were black on white, with a simple serial number over the name OKINAWA. From 1951 to 1962, a separate civilian series emerged, in black on white, with the name RYUKYU ISLANDS across the bottom of the plate, sometimes separated by a date tab. Later, a red on white and white on black series emerged, also with RYUKYU ISLANDS. Some were dated, others had coded prefixes, like C for trucks, and 2B, 5A, 4B or 5B for private or commercial vehicles (see header photo). The coded plates were undated. These later issues ran from 1962 to 1972. Japanese plates came back into use later in 1972.

SINGLE PLATES OR PAIRS: Pairs

OVAL: RYU  

CARS DRIVE ON: Right

Header plate from the collection of Drew Steitz (Pennsylvania).

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