How to become a Ryukyuan Samurai:

 

In Okinawa the term “Samurē”, while based on the same Kanji, was used a little different than in Japan. It meant ancestry in a noble family, sometimes also a warrior class family.

Samurē were also called Yukacchu ユカッチュ. Women with such a pedigree would also be called Samurē. Samurē-ngwa, or otherwise Yukacchu-ngwa, were the children of these families. The terms were also used as a compliment for intelligent children.

By and large the Samurē are distinguished into two social strati:
1) Hudē-zamurē - in hereditary feudal relationships.
2) Shinzan-zamurē - Persons from among the commoners who recently entered rank. Also called Mī-yukacchu.

When these persons bought themselves into the social position of a rank-holder, they were called Kōi-yukacchu. For 160,000 monetary units a commoner could buy such a rank. This was particularly achieved by donations to the royal government. The person than received permission to create a family lineage.