Historical Society President Angela Dunham is headed to Japan and she’s going to bring a little bit of Wareham along for the trip.

On Saturday, Oct. 29, Dunham will travel to Kushimoto, Japan as a goodwill ambassador for the 225th anniversary celebration of Captain John Kendrick's landfall in that city.

Dunham will bring various gifts donated by town officials and residents to present to the people of Kushimoto. Some of the items include: a Wareham Police badge and patch, a hand carved plaque from the Onset Fire Department and poems and messages from middle school students. Check out a photo gallery of gifts to the left of this article.

The trip will cap a year of festivities that celebrated the 225th anniversary of Wareham’s own Captain John Kendrick arriving in Kushimoto. Kendrick’s journey occurred nearly 60 years before U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry used gunboat diplomacy to force trade with isolationist Japan in 1853.

Joining Dunham for the journey is Scott Ridley, the author of “Morning of Fire: John Kendrick’s Daring American Odyssey in the Pacific.”

While showing some items she's collected from around town before her trip, Dunham described Kendrick's personality and legacy.

“He was charismatic. He also was a fantastic navigator, which is why he was hired to do this,” she said. “His mission was to open the Northwest Passage to trade furs and then go over to China to trade for silk, tea, and spices. He continued to Japan from there."

Dunham also noted that Kendrick “had been a pirate and he was raised off Harwich waters.”

June 18 was Captain John Kendrick Day which the Historical Society celebrated at Kendrick's historic home at 100 Main St. earlier this year.