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Yokosuka is a port city, and its main harbors face the busy sea lanes of Tokyo Bay, where ships from all over the world sail day-and-night. Starting in the 19th century, Yokosuka grew from a small collection of fishing villages and farms into a major city hosting a huge naval base and coastal defense fortresses (see link at bottom for some more information). As a naval port city, Yokosuka, more than other places in Japan, has been steadily exposed to international influences over the years. One reflection of this is the surprising number of "sister city" relationships which have been developed -- there are a total of four. As part of sister city activities, occasional visits by Mayors and officials for ceremonies & commemorative events are conducted, and there is also a regular high school exchange student program. Yokosuka's first sister city relationship was established in October 1962, with Corpus Christi, Texas, in the United States. Next, in November 1970, Brest, in Finistere, France, became a sister city of Yokosuka. Australia's Freemantle followed in April 1979; and finally, in August 1998, England's Medway, located in Kent, signed a sister city agreement. Of interest, the reason for the link between Yokosuka and Medway is based on events which happened over 400 years ago -- involving a remarkable English sailor and navigator named Wlliam Adams, who is sometimes known as the "Blue Eyed Samurai" or "Miura Anjin". Adams was shipwrecked in Japan, and through effort, skill, and luck, eventually grew into a trusted adviser to the Shogun (for more information, see the link at the bottom). William Adams' tomb is located on top of a scenic hilltop overlooking Yokosuka's Hemi District.

written by Goodfield

Links : https://us.iino.cc/blog/blog.html?eid=00051

https://deepyokosuka.blogspot.com/.../william-adams-miura...