Will Adams Festival

Will Adams, whose Japanese name was Miura Anjin, is probably better known in Japan than in his native country of England. He was born on 24 September 1564 in Gillingham, Kent. From an early age, the sea and ships fascinated him. He joined the Royal Navy in 1588, serving under Sir Francis Drake during the wars with Spain.

After the war, Will Adams retired from the Navy, married and went to Holland. In the summer of 1598, he was appointed Chief Navigator of the flag ship Hope and set sail for the East Indies. After a hazardous voyage from West Africa, his ship went aground on the island of Kyushu, Japan in 1600.

Adams was taken to the Shogun, questioned and imprisoned as a pirate. When released, he was ordered to sail to Edo (Tokyo). Adams had impressed the Shogun with his knowledge of shipbuilding and navigation. Adams went on to set up the first trading link between Britain and Japan. In recognition of his services, he was granted the honoured title of Samurai and given a small estate in Hemi (modern Yokosuka).

Since 2000, there has been a festival each September to celebrate the culture and traditions of Japan through displays and workshops.