As Pembroke Dock gears up for its 200th anniversary in 2014 remarkable connections between the town and the Japanese nation are being re-established.

Nearly 140 years after an armoured corvette for the Japanese Navy was built at Pembroke Dock, a senior Japanese diplomat has visited the town and has heard the almost forgotten story of the 'Hiei'.

Jun Yamada, recently appointed deputy director-general for European Affairs in the Foreign Office in Tokyo, was shown a model of the vessel, which was launched in June 1877 at the privately owned Shipbuilding and Engineering Works at Jacobs Pill, Pennar.

He is seen admiring the model at the Fleets to Flying Boat Centre with, from left, John Evans; the Mayor, Clr. Peter Kraus; Commander Tony Mason;and David James.