Visitors to the Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai – a six-month-long event being held in Osaka, Japan – will get a glimpse of Maltese history and identity through a dedicated pavilion that includes an astonishing display of restored samurai armour.
Described by Heritage Malta as “a landmark moment for cultural diplomacy, and on the initiative of Malta Enterprise, one of the restored samurai armours – alongside a historically significant suit of armour of the Order of St John – will be on display at the Malta Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai.”
The pavilion will also house replicas of a Neolithic Seated Figure, the Majmuna Stone and the Phoenician Cippus of Malta, representing the islands’ multi-cultural history while marking 60 years of diplomatic relations this year between Malta and Japan.
A remarkable restoration
Three sets of armour were gifted to Malta in 1862 as part of a diplomatic mission, which is also the first recorded visit of Japanese people to Malta. The delegation formed part of the Bunkyu Mission, which aimed to renegotiate unequal treaties and engaged in high-level diplomatic meetings across Europe.
“From 19th century photographs, we see that one of the pieces remained on display at the Grand Master’s Palace Armoury until the onset of World War II, when it was moved to underground storage to protect it from bombings,” says Heritage Malta.
“Unfortunately, prolonged exposure to humidity caused severe deterioration of its organic components, rendering it unexhibitable for decades.”
The armours remained boxed and in storage for decades, with no local or European specialists capable of restoring them, until Malta’s Ambassador to Japan, André Spiteri, visited the Palace Armoury in 2016 and recognised the significance of restoring them.
With his help, the artefacts travelled to Japan in 2023 for restoration at the Kyoto Art Restoration Centre.
“Remarkably, what was initially believed to be parts of two suits of armour turned out – through expert analysis and reassembly – to include elements from a previously undocumented third suit, making this an important rediscovery in itself,” says Heritage Malta, who collaborated with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism and the Embassy of Malta in Japan for this initiative.
“What was once a forgotten diplomatic gift has now been transformed into a vibrant icon of shared heritage – ready to be appreciated by millions of visitors at Expo 2025, and later, once again, at the Grand Master’s Palace in Valletta.”
Photography: Heritage Malta
