[Rakunyu YOSHIMURA]
A Raku ware potter in Kyoto city. The Rakunyu kiln.
The Yoshimura family was originally a whetstone burner from the Edo period, however the first generation Rakunyu made pottery his main business.
The name “Rakunyu” has been succeeded from the first and each generation has created Raku ware tea utensils, ornaments and so on.
- First Generation Rakunyu
His original name was Jinshiro. The first Rakunyu created Raku ware tea utensils.
- Second Generation Rakunyu (1929-)
The second Rakunyu was the son of the first and his original name was Toshio. He refined his skills under his father and has created Raku ware tea utensils.
He has been a member of Kyoto Raku ware kiln association and became the chairman in 1985.

- Third Generation Rakunyu (1959-), the present master.
He is the oldest son of the second Rakunyu.
After his graduation from Doshisha University in 1982,he refined his skills under his father after he graduated from Industrial Research Institute of Kyoto and Ceramic Training School of Kyoto.
He established Rakunyu kiln in 1989,and was designated as a Traditional Craftsman in 2001.
It was 2004 when he succeeded the name Rakunyu from his father.
Rakunyu has been held his personal exhibitions at several department stores in Osaka, Tokyo, Fukuoka and other cities.
[Raku ware]
Japanese lead-glazed earthenware, originally invented in 16th-century Kyōto. Quite distinct from wares that preceded it, raku represents an attempt to arrive at a new kind of beauty by deliberate repudiation of existing forms. The shape of the vessels is extremely simple: a wide, straight-sided bowl set on a narrow base. Because raku wares are molded entirely by hand, each piece expresses the individuality of the maker's hand; and pieces tend to be unique creations. The glaze colours include dark brown, light orange-red, straw colour, green, and cream etc.