also: あんじ · あんず
Ryukyuan chieftain; local lord of the Ryukyu Kingdom
Historical title for regional rulers in the Ryukyu Islands before and during the Ryukyu Kingdom period. Equivalent to a feudal lord or clan chief.
The aji governed a region of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
These castle ruins are said to have been the residence of an aji long ago.
Standard kanji spelling for the Ryukyuan chieftain title.
Alternate reading; less common than あじ.
Rare alternate reading; may appear in historical documents.
The exact origin is uncertain, but the term is deeply rooted in Ryukyuan history and language. The kanji 按司 are used phonetically to represent the native title.