1910-2012
male
hagi pottery
living national treasure
Born the third son of the Miwa kiln’s ninth generation Kyusetsu (Setsudo) of Hagi ware tradition, Miwa Kyusetsu studied under his father and older brother (the 10th generation Kyusetsu: Kyuwa) after graduating middle school, and also studied under Kawakita Handeishi.
After a long period of training, he took on the pottery artist name “Kyu” and displayed his work in 1955. He was chosen for a prize for the first time in the Fourth Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition in 1957, and he continued to be chosen for prizes from that point onward. In 1960, he was nominated for member of the Japan Kogei Association.
In 1967, following the voluntary retirement of his older brother, the 10th generation Kyusetsu, he succeeded the name as the 11th generation Miwa Kyusetsu. After that, he received the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 1976 and the Fourth Class Order of the Sacred Treasure in 1982. He was acknowledged as a Yamaguchi Prefectural Preserver of Intangible Cultural Property in 1972 and a Nationally Designated Preserver of Important Intangible Cultural Property in 1983, both for his techniques in Hagi ware.
He skilfully inherited the traditional korai pottery art and the “Kyusetsu White” glaze style created by his older brother. Furthermore, he developed an openhearted, daring way of making pottery called “Onihagi,” which he himself invented during his long period of training, clearly expressing his individuality as the 11th generation Miwa Kyusetsu. He gave his name to Ryusaku and retired, making his pottery artist name “Jusetsu” and continuing to vigorously make pottery.
He passed away due to old age on December 11th.
