The legacy of a local boy done good will be celebrated in Medway this weekend.

Will Adams grew up in Gillingham during the Tudor period and went on to sail into the history books.

He navigated a fleet of Dutch ships from West Africa, but his ship ran aground on the island of Kyushu in Japan in stormy conditions, where he was captured, questioned and imprisoned as a pirate.

After his release he was ordered to sail to Tokyo, and on his arrival the Shogun was impressed and he became a trusted aide and diplomatic adviser – even being granted the honoured title of Samurai.

His place in the history books is remembered every year when a day of Tudor England feasts, maritime history, and Japanese culture is held at Gillingham Park.

Highlights include Taiko Meantime Drumming, martial arts, manga workshops, origami and storytelling.

Visitors can also watch Tudor chandlery and games, watch Japanese chess – shogi – and try a Reiki or Shiatsu taster session.

Hiromi Rogers, author of ANJIN, The Life and Times of William Adams, will be signing copies of her book.

DETAILS

The Will Adams Festival will be held at Gillingham Park on Saturday, September 9 between 11am and 4.30pm. For more details go to medway.gov.uk

THE HISTORY

Will Adams was born in 1564 in Gillingham and joined the Royal Navy in 1588. In 1598, he was appointed chief navigator of the flagship Hope and set sail, but his ship ran aground in treacherous weather conditions on a Japanese island in 1600.

He was taken to the Shogun and imprisoned, but his knowledge of shipbuilding and navigation impressed the ruler, and he went on to become a trusted adviser, and set up the first trading link between Britain and Japan.

He was granted the title of Samurai and given a small estate in Japan, now known as Yokosuka.

Since 2000, Medway Council has staged a festival each autumn celebrating the Japanese culture and his life.