Three sets of Japanese Samurai armour, originally gifted to Malta in 1862 as part of a diplomatic mission, have been meticulously restored and reassembled by expert conservators in Japan − thanks to a collaborative initiative between Heritage Malta, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism and the Embassy of Malta in Japan.
In a landmark moment for cultural diplomacy, and on the initiative of the 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, as Malta and Japan celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations this year.
On the Malta pavilion, replicas of a Neolithic Seated Figure, the Majmuna Stone and the Phoenician Cippus of Malta will be on display representing the multi-cultural history of Malta.
The samurai armours were donated during the visit of a Japanese delegation that included the renowned intellectual Yukichi Fukuzawa − a Samurai, educator, philosopher and later a prominent figure in Japan’s modernisation who founded the prestigious Keio University in Tokyo and whose portrait until recently featured on the Japanese 10,000 yen banknote.
The delegation formed part of the Bunkyu Mission, which aimed to renegotiate unequal treaties and engaged in high-level
diplomatic meetings across Europe. Malta’s strategic location made it a natural stopover during this historic voyage before embarking for France. It is the first recorded visit of Japanese people to Malta.
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. Unfortunately, prolonged exposure to humidity caused severe deterioration of its organic components, rendering it unexhibitable for decades.
With no local or European specialists capable of restoring such artefacts, the Samurai armours remained boxed and in storage − until a new chapter began in 2016, when Malta’s Ambassador to Japan, André Spiteri, visited the Palace Armoury and recognised the significance of restoring the long-forgotten gift.
Spiteri offered to help identify Japanese experts with the right skills, eventually securing the collaboration of the Kyoto Art Restoration Centre run by the talented Harumasa Miyashita, also a tea ceremony master, which specialises in the conservation of historical Japanese artefacts. Coordinating closely with Heritage Malta, the ambassador personally accompanied the fragile artefacts to Japan in 2023 to ensure their safe transport to the atelier.
Throughout the restoration process, extraordinary care was taken to preserve original materials and techniques. 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.
This cross-cultural initiative not only preserved an irreplaceable artefact but also symbolises the renewal of historical ties and mutual respect between Malta and Japan. 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.
This project stands as a testament to Heritage Malta’s dedication to safeguarding cultural heritage and the power of international collaboration in reviving history −not only for preservation, but for the public to experience, appreciate, and cherish as part of the rich and enduring legacy shared between Malta and Japan.
This article was provided by Heritage Malta.
