“During my first solo exhibition, I remember it was a period when I was exploring my own style a bit away from the tradition of Hagi ware, so I went through a lot of trial and error in creating the exhibition. This time, the exhibition took place as my own style has been refined, and I approached it with confidence,” said Masahiro. One of the highlights of this exhibition, especially captivating for visitors, was the “Flower Vase” displayed in the gallery’s back room. This series, inspired by the tranquil beauty of rainwater and spring water gently flowing down rock and wood surfaces in the mountains, provided a moment of tranquility to those who visited, especially amidst the scorching heat.

Even as Masahiro’s vases and objets d’art respect the texture of the clay and glaze, many of his works are more impressive in terms of their sculptural aspects. Despite this there is no sense of pretention in his work, and his organic shapes, composed with just the right amount of finesse, are sure to tickle the viewer’s fancy. The work titled “Piece” is an objet d’art that has been soaked in persimmon tannin and bancha tea after firing to create an aged look. The saying “Hagi no nana-bake,” or “the seven transformations of Hagi,” is widely known in the world of tea ceremony ceramics, which sees beauty in the changing appearance of an object as it is used, a concept which has been cleverly incorporated into his sculptures.