Japanese is one of the languages that are considered Japonic. In the Japonic classification, there are other two languages, which are Ryukyuan and Yayoi.

The main language spoken in Okinawa is Okinawan, which is a dialect of the Ryukyuan language. However, Japanese is also widely spoken and used for official purposes.

Ryukyuan religious beliefs

There are many languages spoken in Japan, but Japanese is by far the most spoken and official language and practically all Japanese citizens and many temporary residents speak it. Minority languages in Japan include Okinawan (spoken on Okinawa Island by many island natives), Korean (by the relatively large Korean immigrant population), and Ryukyuan languages spoken by natives of the Ryukyu Islands south of the main Japanese islands. English is limited to major cities or tourist areas although it is taught in secondary schools.

No. It is a member of the Japonic (or Japanese-Ryukyuan) language family, whose relation to other language groups is debated.