5.3 The Reliquary: When a Western Saint Meets Eastern Lacquer Art#

This fusion finds its ultimate expression in an exhibit displayed in the cathedral’s basement hall.

It is a Zushi (a portable shrine or reliquary) handcrafted by Ryoji Baba, a master restorer of designated National Treasures. Created in 1999 to mark the 450th anniversary of St. Francis Xavier’s arrival in Japan, this shrine was designed to house the relic of Xavier’s “Sacred Arm” during its pilgrimage tour. It utilizes the very pinnacle of Japan’s traditional lacquer and coloring techniques.

When the relic of a Western saint is gently cradled within a vessel of traditional Eastern craftsmanship, what we witness is not merely a religious liturgical object, but a cultural convergence of beauty and benevolence that transcends race and faith.