William Adams Festival as an example of making history relevant today; the value of people-to-people exchanges
Gillingham, Kent, now within the Unitary Authority of Medway, was where William Adams was born. The Medway Archives and Local Studies Centre is the custodian of the register of St. Mary Magdalene Parish Church, in which is recorded his baptism on 24th September 1564.
Contacts
Web: Medway Archives and Local Studies Centre
email: malsc@medway.gov.uk
telephone: 01634 332714
In 1934 a memorial in the form of a clock tower was unveiled by his Excellency the Japanese Ambassador, Tsuneo Mastudaira.
In 1982 the Borough of Gillingham signed Sister City Partnerships with Ito and Yokosuka.
Out of these early links grew the idea of having an annual William Adams Festival in Gillingham. This year there were over 10,000 visitors. The aim of the festival is to celebrate the achievements of William Adams. Each year’s festival is slightly different but have included displays and demonstrations of typical Japanese arts and crafts, the ever popular manga, anime, martial arts, dancing, games, kite flying, origami, ikebana, tea ceremony, and a samurai encampment, with visitors taking part in work shops where possible. The festival also has stalls, displays and demonstrations of arts, crafts and activities popular during Tudor times in England, including paper making, falconry, pottery, and musicians. The festival’s finale is a wonderful display of taiko drumming
Medway Council also supports the annual exchange of students. Four students from Medway spend two weeks in Japan. Each will live as a member of their host family. In return four Japanese students come and stay with the Medway students for two weeks, learning about life in Britain, the history of Rochester, Chatham and of course Gillingham. Many of the students go on to university, some to study Japanese. One is currently employed as a salesman in Tokyo. Two of this year’s students have aspirations of becoming Japanese/English interpreters. All the students grow in stature and confidence as a result of taking part in the exchange scheme.
Last year, Medway played host to the Deputy Mayor of Yokosuka on an official visit, the Mayor of Ito with a party of 24, and the Mayor of Hirado with officers exploring the possibilities of venues for events for 2013.
For us the close links we have with our friends in Ito, Yokosuka and Hirado, and a separate school link with Kobe High School, are a valuable and tangible expression of the importance of maintaining people to people exchanges in a world that is seeking peace at all levels.
Susan Haydock
Chairman of the Medway Japan Group, Honorary Mayor of Yokosuka and former Mayor of Medway (now incorporating Gillingham) susanjhaydock@aol.com
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