The top-level domain (TLD) “.RYUKYU” is a geographic TLD, established for use by individuals and organizations with connections to the Ryukyu Islands in Japan. Geographic TLDs like “.RYUKYU” are designed to serve the local and international communities interested in the culture, tourism, and economy of its respective area.
The Ryukyu Islands, also known as Nansei Islands in Japanese, are a chain of islands that stretch from Kyushu to Taiwan. They are considered a part of the larger East China Sea Islands and have a rich history and vibrant, unique culture. The introduction of the “.RYUKYU” TLD aims to support this distinctive regional identity and grow its digital presence.
The “.RYUKYU” top-level domain is administered by BRregistry, Inc., in addition to “.okinawa” and “.okinawa.jpn.com”. They were approved by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the international governing body for domain names. According to the data from Domain Name Stat, as of January 2022, there were 1,364 domains registered under “.RYUKYU”.
Examples of websites that use the “.RYUKYU” TLD include the Okinawa National College of Technology (http://www.okinawa-ct.ryukyu), a specialized technology school in Okinawa, and the Okinawa Karate Website (http://www.okinawa-karate.ryukyu), an informational site dedicated to the traditional martial art form that originated on the Ryukyu Islands. These sites aim to foster an active sense of community and promote the culture, history, and identity of the Ryukyu area.
However, as with many regional or city-specific domains, the growth and adoption rate of the “.RYUKYU” TLD haven’t always been high. For example, Tokyo’s “.tokyo” domain has similar registration numbers despite the vastly different size of their respective populations.
Nevertheless, the existence and utilization of the “.RYUKYU” TLD significantly enhance the visibility and accessibility of the Ryukyu Islands to the global online community, offering potential benefits for various sectors such as tourism, business, culture, and education.
Sources used to construct this answer:
1. “ICANN new gTLD Application”. ICANN.
2. Ryukyu Islands. Encyclopædia Britannica.
3. Domain Name Stat. “Domain Name Stat.”
4. BRregistry, Inc. “About BRregistry, Inc.“
5. Okinawa National College of Technology. http://www.okinawa-ct.ryukyu.
6. Okinawa Karate Website. http://www.okinawa-karate.ryukyu.
7. “.tokyo TLD Domain Statistics”. Domain Name Stat.
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