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If you are expecting Japanese classics from Okinawa, prepare to be surprised. Okinawa is a series of three tropical archipelagos that have historically been inhabited by the indigenous Ryukyuan people, a different ethic group that the Yamato majority in mainland Japan. As such, you can expect more tropical fruits and flavors and some influences from Chinese and Southeast Asian cuisine due to trade with these regions. The sweet potato and the bitter melon are of particular importance in the cuisine and has been credited with the long lifespan of Okinawans. That said, US influence on the islands and the cuisine has resulted in not only an increase of American ingredients like spam, cheese, and beef, but also a higher rate of diet-related health problems than any other region of Japan.