Three recently restored Samurai armours from Malta’s National Collection are being exhibited together for the first time in Japan at the iconic Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The armours will remain on display until 26th December.
The display forms part of “The Samurai” and “The Knight of Malta”, a legacy exhibition of Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai. Officially inaugurated in late October by Malta’s Ambassador to Japan, H.E. André Spiteri, alongside the Mayor of Himeji, Hideyasu Kiyomoto, the exhibition brings together Japanese Samurai armour and Western armour worn by the Knights of St John, dating back to the early 17th century.
It also includes replicas of key Maltese national artefacts that reflect the island’s layered history, such as the prehistoric Seated Figure and Sleeping Lady, the Phoenician-period Cippus, and the Majmuna Stone from the Arab period.
Himeji Castle, widely regarded as Japan’s finest surviving feudal castle and among its most visited heritage sites, provides a particularly meaningful setting. All three Samurai armours were crafted by the renowned Myōchin family of armourers, who also operated workshops in Himeji, creating a direct historical link between the artefacts and the host city.
The three suits of Samurai armour were donated to Malta in 1862 during the Bunkyu Mission to Europe, the first recorded visit of Japanese people to Malta. They were meticulously restored and reassembled by Japanese expert conservators through a collaboration between Heritage Malta, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, and the Embassy of Malta in Japan.
During the restoration process, experts identified components belonging to a previously undocumented third suit of armour, turning the project into a significant rediscovery. One of the armours was previously exhibited at the Malta Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka, marking 60 years of diplomatic relations between Malta and Japan.
“What was once a forgotten diplomatic gift has been transformed into a powerful symbol of shared heritage,” said Heritage Malta Chief Executive Officer Noel Zammit.
He went on to say that the armours represent more than historic artefacts, adding that they reflect Malta’s role as a cultural crossroads and demonstrate how international collaboration can bring history to life for global audiences.
Once returned to Malta, the Samurai armours will be placed on permanent display at the Grand Master’s Palace in Valletta, alongside replicas of complementary weapons and accessories replacing missing original elements, continuing to symbolise the enduring friendship between Malta and Japan.
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