Malta’s rich and diverse cultural heritage has taken centre stage in Japan, as three restored Samurai armours from Malta’s National Collection are being exhibited together for the first time at the iconic Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The armours will remain on display until 26th December 2025, offering visitors a rare opportunity to view these remarkable artefacts in a setting deeply connected to their origins.

The armours form part of the exhibition ‘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 Himeji Mayor Hideyasu Kiyomoto, the exhibition explores the parallels between Japanese Samurai culture and the Western martial traditions of the Knights of St John, with armour dating back to the early 17th century.

The exhibition also showcases replicas of significant Maltese national artefacts that reflect the island’s multilayered past, including the prehistoric Seated Figure and Sleeping Lady, the Phoenician Cippus, and the Majmuna Stone from the Arab period.

Himeji Castle provides a particularly meaningful backdrop, as all three Samurai armours were crafted by the renowned Myōchin family, master armourers who operated workshops in the city. Donated to Malta in 1862 during the Bunkyu Mission to Europe, the armours mark the first recorded visit of Japanese people to Malta.

Their meticulous restoration by Japanese expert conservators led to a remarkable discovery: elements of a previously undocumented third suit of armour, transforming the project into an important historical rediscovery.

Heritage Malta CEO Noel Zammit described the armours as a powerful symbol of shared heritage and collaboration.

Following their return, the armours will be placed on permanent display at the Grand Master’s Palace in Valletta, continuing to embody the enduring friendship between Malta and Japan.

What an honour!