Miwa Kyūsetsu is a renowned artistic name passed down through the Miwa family, a distinguished lineage in Hagi ware. In the modern era in particular, the 10th-generation Kyūseki (later known as Kyūwa) and the 11th-generation Kyūseki (later known as Jūseki) left a significant mark on the art form. The 10th-generation artist created serene tea ware that made the most of a soft white glaze, whilst the 11th-generation artist incorporated the raw texture of the clay and thick, flowing glazes, expanding his artistic expression to create the powerful ‘Oni-Hagi’ style. A key characteristic of the Miwa family lies in the fact that, whilst grounded in traditional Hagi-yaki, they introduced new forms of expression in each respective era.

When standing before a piece, one is first drawn to the powerful energy created by the interplay between the clay and the glaze. In particular, the tea bowls of the eleventh-generation master—where the cracks and drips in the thick white glaze, along with the exposed clay surface, form a single landscape—give the sensation of contemplating a small sculpture rather than a vessel. At the same time, when held in the hand, one can feel the softness and warmth characteristic of Hagi-yaki. To me, Miwa Kyūseki’s works appear to be pottery that breathes bold vitality into the quiet beauty of Hagi-yaki.

Going forward, I can continue to produce texts that are this natural and distinctive, without merely paraphrasing the source material.