Twelfth in line to the title of ‘Kyusetsu’, the artist is the eldest son of Jusetsu Miwa (Kyusetsu XI) and became familiar with Hagi’s distinctive materials and techniques from a young age as he closely observed his father and his uncle Kyuwa (Kyusetsu X), designated a National LivingTreasure for his work on Hagi-ware. Whilst Kyusetsu XII（real name, Ryosaku) has the greatest possible appreciation of his father and uncle’s role in developing modern Hagi Tea Ware and particularly values its innovation, he departs from Hagi tradition in his own creative work which explores the artistic nature and contemporaneity of pottery-making based on spontaneous personal feeling.

Ever since his exhibition of ceramic objects entitled ‘Hanako's Elegant Life (High Heels)’ in the post-graduate exhibition at Tokyo University of the Arts in 1967, Kyusetsu has continued to startle and challenge us with work which sometimes starkly exposes human emotions, or presents a palpable revelation of sublime passion. Precisely because they are figurative, his unadorned visible rendering of profound human emotions and desires makes his viewers all the more acutely aware of the fundamental truths of human existence – the birth and death of the individual.

This creative affirmation, exploiting the distinctive qualities of Hagi ceramic clay to the full, continually demonstrates the artist’s indomitable spirit through works in series and monumentally large pieces, all richly expressive – utilising to great effect the warmth of the black clay surfaces, generous layers of lustrous glaze, the white tones of traditional Hagi glaze, and a gold luster whose characteristic silky sheen illuminates the surrounding space.