Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1534619
8 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 23 APRIL 2025 CULTURE THREE sets of Japanese Samurai armour, originally gifted to Malta in 1862 as part of a diplomatic mis- sion, have been meticulously re- stored 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 cul- tural diplomacy, and on the in- itiative of the Malta Enterprise, one of the restored Samurai ar- mours—alongside a historically significant suit of armour of the Order of St John—will be on dis- play at the Malta Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai, as Malta and Japan celebrate 60 years of diplo- matic relations this year. On the Malta pavilion, replicas of a Neo- lithic Seated Figure, the Majmuna Stone and the Phoenician Cippus of Malta will be on display repre- senting the multi-cultural history of Malta. The samurai armours were do- nated during the visit of a Japa- nese delegation that included the renowned intellectual Yukichi Fukuzawa—a Samurai, educator, philosopher, and later a promi- nent figure in Japan's modernisa- tion who founded the prestigious Keio University in Tokyo and whose portrait until recently fea- tured on the Japanese 10,000 yen banknote. The delegation formed part of the Bunkyu Mission, which aimed to renegotiate unequal trea- ties and engaged in high-level dip- lomatic meetings across Europe. Malta's strategic location made it a natural stopover during this his- toric voyage before embarking to France. It is the first recorded visit of Japanese people to Malta. From 19th century photographs, we see that one of the pieces re- mained on display at the Grand Master's Palace Armoury until the onset of World War II, when it was moved to underground stor- age to protect it from bombings. Unfortunately, prolonged expo- sure to humidity caused severe deterioration of its organic com- ponents, rendering it unexhibita- ble for decades. With no local or European spe- cialists 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 Ja- pan, H.E. André Spiteri, visited the Palace Armoury and recog- nised the significance of restoring the long-forgotten gift. Ambassador 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 Miyas- hita, also a tea ceremony master, which specialises in the Page 2 of 2 conservation of historical Jap- anese artefacts. Coordinating closely with Heritage Malta, the Ambassador personally accompa- nied the fragile artefacts to Japan in 2023 to ensure their safe trans- port to the atelier. Throughout the restoration pro- cess, 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 impor- tant rediscovery in itself. This cross-cultural initiative not only preserved an irreplaceable artefact but also symbolises the renewal of historical ties and mu- tual respect between Malta and Japan. What was once a forgot- ten diplomatic gift has now been transformed into a vibrant icon of shared heritage—ready to be ap- preciated by millions of visitors at Expo 2025, and later, once again, at the Grand Master's Palace in Valletta. This project stands as a testa- ment to Heritage Malta's dedica- tion to safeguarding cultural herit- age and the power of international collaboration in reviving history— not only for preservation, but for the public to experience, appre- ciate, and cherish as part of the rich and enduring legacy shared between Malta and Japan. Restored samurai armour to feature at Expo 2025: A testament to Malta–Japan friendship A restored 19th- century Samurai armour, gifted to Malta by Japan, will feature at Expo 2025— celebrating 60 years of diplomatic ties and a remarkable cultural rediscovery.