During the course of his career, Yamada's oeuvre evolved considerably, beginning with more functional ceramic vessels and moving on to experiment with non-functional or anti-functional works.
To avoid the aftermaths of the Great Kanto Earthquaqke, the family moved to Gifu City, a ceramic center in Japan.
[4] Two years later, in July 1948, Yamada and Yagi, along with ceramicists Osamu Suzuki, Tetsu Kano, and Yoshisuke Matsui formed the avant-garde ceramic group Sōdeisha (translated as "The Crawling through Mud Association).
'[8] These perforations, often containing smaller moveable pieces, or, in some cases, small balls of clay,[9] allowed viewers to see through his work and perceive the space beyond through a new lens.
Black pottery was Yagi's signature technique, created by burnishing and firing clay continuously at low temperature in a smoky environment.
[15][16] Sōdeisha has had an enduring legacy both within Japan and on an international scale, with many contemporary ceramicists fusing techniques and forms inspired by the group in their own work, such as hand-building and experimentation with two-dimensionality.