Sakaida Kakiemon XII (1878-1963)
十二代 酒井田柿右衛門

Sakaida Kakiemon XII was born in Arita in 1878 the son of Sakaida Kakiemon XI (1845-1917), upon whose death he became head of the Kakiemon family tradition, which started in the 17th century with Sakaida Kakiemon (1596-1666). Kakiemon XII not only inherited a long tradition, but also serious economic difficulties when official and feudal support was waning after the Meiji restoration. Due to his skills and the assistance of Obata Hideyoshi (starting in 1919) a wealthy investor the workshop was able to re-establish its former grandeur.
In 1955 Kakiemon XII was chosen an intangible cultural asset, and won the Grand Prize at the Brussels International Exposition in 1958.