1895 – 1981
male
hagi pottery
living national treasure
He was born as a child of the 9th Miwa Kyusetsu (Setudo) of the Miwa Kiln of the traditional Hagi Pottery. After he had been disciplined and influenced by his father and his grandfather (the 8th Kyusetsu: Setsuzan), he inherited his family business and in 1927 he inherited the professional name as the 10th Kyusetsu.
He has worshiped and adored works of generations of Kyusetu, and devoted himself to the research of kaolin. Eventually he combined the Hagi clay and white glaze to complete the unique glaze called “Kyusetsujiro”. He has also added the character of pottery used at Japanese tea ceremonies to the Korian Korai Dynasty’s transfer ware to achieve his own subtle style. Thus, he developed a new personality in the Hagi pottery world and made the foundation for the prosperity of Hagi Pottery today.
After World War ll, he enthusiastically continued to present his works and won many prizes in the contemporary ceramic art exhibitions and the traditional craft exhibitions. In 1961 he was elected as the president of Hagi Pottery Ceramic Association. In 1964 he was certified as a person of cultural merit of the Yamaguchi Prefecture. In 1967 he handed down Kyusetsu to his younger brother and he changed his professional name to “Kyuwa” in his retirement. In 1970, during his later life, he was accredited for his achievements and received recognition as a holder of important intangible cultural heritage (a national living treasure).
