1910 (Meiji 43) – 2012 (Heisei 24)
The 11th Miwa Kyūsetsu was born in Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, as the third son of the renowned Miwa family of Hagi ware. His real name was Setsuo, and over time he adopted the art names “Kyū” (before succession), “Kyūsetsu” (after succession), and “Jusetsu” (after retirement).
After graduating from Yamaguchi Prefectural Hagi Middle School in 1927, he studied under his older brother, the 10th Miwa Kyūsetsu (Kyūwa), and became involved in the family’s ceramic tradition. In 1941, he briefly studied under Kawakita Handeishi at Chitoseyama Kiln in Tsu City, Mie Prefecture—an experience that profoundly influenced him on a spiritual level.
In 1955, he began presenting his own works under the name “Kyū.” Until then, he had spent nearly 30 years working behind the scenes at the Miwa kiln, dedicating himself to mastering the foundational techniques of the craft, including the creation of ornamental pieces.
Over time, he established his own distinctive “Kyūsetsu style,” earning recognition as a towering figure in contemporary Japanese ceramics. Together with his brother, he developed the iconic “Kyūsetsu White” glaze. His representative works such as “Onihagi” and “Warikōdai” transcend the traditional boundaries of tea ceramics, achieving the level of pure sculptural art.