It is a member of the Japonic (or Japanese-Ryukyuan) language family, whose relation to other language groups, particularly to Korean and the suggested Altaic language family, is debated but mostly seen as discredited.
It is a member of the Japonic (or Japanese-Ryukyuan) language family, whose relation is proposed to the Austro-Tai languages as para-Austronesian. Its relation to other language groups, particularly to Korean and the suggested Altaic language family, is debated but mostly seen as discredited.