GILLINGHAM'S Japanese links are being promoted in a renewed bid to attract firms and jobs to Medway.

Will Adams, the legendary Samurai warrior who was born in the town, was mentioned in several conversations local business leaders recently held in Japan.

Sir Alistair Hunter, chairman of Locate in Kent, which promotes inward investment into Medway, and chief executive Paul Wookey, addressed Japanese businessmen in Tokyo.

The talk was part of a new offensive by Locate in Kent and was attended by senior representatives of firms that had already launched successful European operations in Gillingham.

While Japan was a fruitful source of inward investment in the 1980s and early 1990s, the situation changed as the Japanese economy went into freefall.

During that earlier heady period, several Japanese firms moved to Gillingham Business Park, including Fuji Seal, Fuji Copian and Hochiki.

The Japanese developed the prestige London Golf Club near Brands Hatch and Chaucer College for Japanese students opened on the University of Kent campus at Canterbury.

But further interest waned with the economic problems.

A recent encouraging sign was the decision by hi-tech Japanese manufacturer Maruwa to open a factory in Ashford.

Now there are welcome signs of a revival of interest from the Far East in other parts of the county, including Medway.

But Sir Alistair said that it would be wrong to expect quick announcements.

The Japanese liked to weigh key decisions very carefully before making a move.

But having a cluster of Japanese firms, like there is in Gillingham, would only help persuade others to join them.

"The more Japanese companies locate here, the more encouraging it is because the larger the collection, still more want to come," he said.

He had been encouraged by the response to Kent and Medway's message.

Mr Wookey said that Will Adams would not be the only reason why Japanese firms would choose Medway, but it helped.