Inspiration and background (1)

I forgot my Camera! What! What has that got to do with inspiration and background? Clint you have lost it! I would normally do a club AAR on Sunday after club but as I forgot my camera it might not be a very good AAR so I am back talking about Samurai!

Many of you will know I live in Gillingham in Kent. What many of you will not realise is that Gillingham is twinned with a couple of Japanese towns. Yes I know most towns have a twin town but why has Gillingham been twined with towns in Japan? You will have noticed the book and DVD on the right. That's a big clue. Change all the names and this book was pretty much a true story, obviously adapted into a story and then TV series. The lead character in this story is "John Blackthorne" who was based on "Will Adams". And "Will Adams" was born in Gillingham. ( Click HERE for the wiki!).

The Will Adams Monument on the A2

Antony J Bryant in the osprey Campaign book "Sekigahara" hi-lights this connection and goes on to say that the Shogun book has the political setting about right. Thus we have a local history link to my current wargaming interest. In fact I would say more than local history as it does link to the Far East and that can hardly be considered local.

One of the plaques on the monument.

While the monument was erected in 1934 and the events go back circa 1600 AD until the towns were twinned most people in this area were unaware of this person. More recently however roads, roundabouts and medical centres have all taken the Will Adams name. So growing up I was not made aware of this local hero. Typically English understatement the town did not celebrate and hardly acknowledge William Adams. Personally I think we could do with a grander monument and perhaps a small visitor centre, nothing too fancy perhaps a permanent display in a local museum. (There are no museums in Gillingham we ain't very cultural here!)

OK enough of the waffle and back to the wargaming. So I thought to post this to show that some background to wargaming need not be all stuffy and involve much reading. And indeed can have local and international overtones.Obviously I am reading around the subject as well as re-reading "Shogun" by James Cavell for the third time ( you can see by the cover it has been read a few times already, and I got it second hand as well). It is a most excellent book and TV series and I would recommend it without hesitation even if you are not interested in wargaming with Samurai. For me it is very gratifying to have such a strong local link and to think that "Will Adams" was the FIRST western Samurai!

I should have some more painted figures by the time Wednesday comes around for my next post. I had anticipated a game report today so I had nothing varnished and ready to photograph. So until Wednesday when I will do my next update I hope you found something of interest here today. Not very wargaming I'll have to admit, but I think it is of interest and with luck I hope you do too.

Best Wishes Clint.