Toyozo Arakawa was born 1984 in Tajimi City, Gifu prefecture, which is one of the most famous towns for ceramic arts. He did not start his career as a ceramic artist until later in life, age forty. Until that point he had worked in many areas related to ceramics across Japan. Later he formed a close relationship with Rosanjin Kitaoji, who was born in Kyoto and flourished in many art fields and had the biggest impression on Arakawa's life.In 1930, when he was thirty six, at Ogaya-Mutadou in Kago City, he discovered the kiln that was used to fire Shino ceramics in the Momoyama period. This find was very important in the history of Japanese ceramics because it showed that Shino in the Momoyama period was fired not in Seto but actually in Mino. Inspired he moved there and began a new life making ceramics. This was the pivotal point in his life as a ceramic artist and he sparked the reintroduction of Momoyama Ceramics. He played a leading part in the classic revival and worked as passionately as his style of ceramics was strong and distinctive.  In 1955, when he was fifty-nine, he was named a human national treasure because of his skill in Shino and Setoguro.  In 1985, age ninety-one, he died, after living a life dedicated to ceramics and his legacy continues to this day.