When we think of the tea ceremony, concepts like Wabi-Sabi, discipline, and choreographed elegance often come to mind—pristine, meditative, and serene. Yet, Miwa Ryukishō (formerly known as Miwa Ryosaku and Kyusetsu XII), a generational artist from Hagi and son of Living National Treasures Miwa Kyusetsu XI and Miwa Kyūwa (his uncle, Kyusetsu X), challenges these traditional associations.
It is no easy feat to carry on and preserve a family legacy while cultivating a personal, creative voice. For years, Miwa-sensei has been doing just that, consistently pushing boundaries with his innovative and provocative works. Recently, he has adopted a new artist name “Ryukisho”, having moved on from both “Ryosaku” and “Kyusetsu”, reflecting his evolving ideas and a new chapter in his ceramic practice.
Currently, a new exhibition hosted by the prestigious Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Art Gallery in Tokyo, Japan, showcases his latest tea bowls—works that resonate deeply with the soul. Miwa takes us back to the era of Japan's medieval warriors, when the ritual of drinking tea was intimately tied to the reality of facing life and death. When gazing upon his works, and thinking through his conceptual invocations, one imagines oneself as though standing on the brink of battle, clad in armor, the weight of mortality heavy on your shoulders. Your life may change irrevocably after this moment—perhaps your sweetheart or family waits anxiously at home, unsure if they will ever see you again. As you take that quiet sip of tea, the question hangs in the air: Are you ready?
In this charged atmosphere, the warriors Miwa evokes are a metaphor for artists and creators who, like him, are single-minded in their pursuit of innovation and mastery in their craft. The "battle" isn’t a literal fight but the internal struggle of dedication to creating something new—the weight of pushing boundaries, the sacrifices made, and the constant risk of failure. Just as those ancient warriors faced life and death, artists confront their own battles in the creative process, driven by the romance of a vision rooted deep in their hearts. Miwa Sensei’s bold forms and philosophy shake up our traditional ideas of tea and society, hitting us hard and urging us to reflect on life’s deeper questions: What is life about? What do we live for? How should we live?
Miwa challenges us to rethink the 21st-century tea ceremony through his ceramics, carrying the torch as a pioneer and forging a path forward—much like we imagine great masters such as Sen no Rikyū and Furuta Oribe would evolve today. For Miwa, true greatness in art has always come from vitality and creative freedom, not just technique. Now, at 84, he has reinvented himself once again, taking the name Ryukishō (三輪 龍氣生), meaning ‘dragon spirit.’ From Miwa Ryosaku to Miwa Kyusetsu XII, and now Ryukishō, we applaud and celebrate his unwavering dedication to embodying the 'dragon spirit' in this exciting new chapter of his life.
Dear readers, if you find yourself in Japan, do not miss this extraordinary exhibition at the Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Gallery in Tokyo, on the 6th floor, from October 16th to 21st. For those unable to attend, we are delighted to share are a few glimpses of his remarkable tea bowls.
Photos courtesy of Thomas Barratt.
