'Japanese-European Samurai: Arms and Armor of Austria and Japan'

During the 2001-04 restoration of the Japanese cabinet of the Eggenberg Castle in Graz, Austria, it was discovered that the wall covering of the room was in fact a 17th-century Japanese folding screen depicting Osaka Castle. The discovery of the work, which was originally commissioned by Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1598), sparked a special friendship between Austria and Japan. In 2009 a sister great-house partnership agreement was concluded between Eggenberg Castle and Osaka Castle to encourage reciprocal exhibition projects.

To commemorate that partnership's third anniversary, the Osaka Museum of History has brought together historical weaponry from Japan and Austria — including samurai armor and similar attire from the Holy Roman Empire — in a comparison of Asian and Western warfare; May 6.

Osaka Museum of History; (06) 6946 5728; 4-1-32, Otemae, Chuo-ku, Osaka; Tanimachi 4-chome Station, Tanimachi Subway Line. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. ¥ 1,500. Closed Tue. www.mus-his.city.osaka.jp.