Anjin Festival

The Anjin Festival is held in Ito city August 8th - 10th， Shizuoka prefecture, on the Izu peninsula (210 km south of Tokyo, 3 hours by car, one hour 50 minutes by express train). Ito city is famous for its onsen, sea views, art museums, gardens, and history. It has active onsen hot springs, and is one of the three largest onsen areas in Japan
This festival commemorates William Adams, known in Japanese as Miura Anjin, who built and launched the first Western sailing ship in Japan. The earliest Englishman to come to Japan, he also served as advisor to Tokugawa Ieyasu on diplomatic affairs. The main event is the fireworks display over the sea.
The drum (taiko) groups at the Anjin festival are top-notch. Japanese drums require athleticism as well as drumming form and expertise. The talent is impressive, and the performances are exciting to watch. Some groups are second only to the world-famous Kodo taiko troupe from Sado Island.
After the concert stage is closed on the night of the 10th, everyone flocks to the beach for the fireworks that bring the festival to a close. Don't lag behind too long buying beer and snacks on the way. The beach is crowded with blankets and chairs, and people are shoulder to shoulder sitting along the wall. The fireworks are set off continuously for an hour over the water. Not only is the sky illuminated, but the water is also glowing with the reflections. It is absolutely breath-taking. Boats sit out in the water positioned for prime firework viewing, too.

Background History
Anjin Festival has a great history behind: The Englishman from Gillingham, Kent, William Adams found himself washed up on Kyushu Island near today's Usaki city. His ship the De Liefde was the only ship left of the original fleet of five, and his crew had dwindled down to 24, of which only 9 were healthy enough to be on their feet.
Japanese locals, including the daimyo (later to be the Shogun) Tokugawa Ieyasu, and some Jesuit Priests from Portugal met the ship. The Jesuits claimed the crew to be pirates and wanted them crucified. Instead, Tokugawa imprisoned the crew at Osaka Castle and interrogated Adams. Adams impressed Tokugawa with his knowledge of shipbuilding and nautical mathematics.
In 1604, Shogun Tokugawa ordered William Adams and his crew to build Japan’s first western-style ships. These ships were built in the Ito city shipyards. William Adams became a diplomatic and trade advisor to the Shogun. The Shogun was so impressed with Adams; Adams was given a house in Tokyo, two swords, and a badge of rank and authority. Adams, the English pilot became Samurai Miura Anjin with a fief at Hemi (today’s Yokosuka) and a nice salary. He married Oyuki, the daughter of Noble Samurai Magome Kageyu, and had a son and daughter.

Today, a monument marks the foundation of Anjin's townhouse in Anjin-cho, and his grave is marked with his Japanese name in Hirado, Nagasaki prefecture.