Yu Maruta
He is the third generation of the Maruta family, a famous kiln for Kuromuta ware, and is a notable artist who combines the tradition and innovation of Karatsu ware.
After studying under Mashiko ware artist Shosaku Akashi and learning the basics of working with earth and fire, he inherited the workshop of his grandfather, Masami Maruta, a Kuromuta ware kiln with over 400 years of history. Currently, he continues to explore his own unique expression while deeply familiar with the world of his father, Munehiko Maruta, a leading figure in Karatsu ware.
Born into a family of ceramic artists, and having absorbed techniques and sensibilities from artists of different lineages, Professor Maruta Yu's work is a blend of "inheritance" and "innovation."
While based on Karatsu tradition, they are sometimes unconventional, featuring bold and playful designs, such as widening the rim of a sake cup like a tokkuri.