1917-1995
male
Real name Mizuno Yu. Born to Heian Tofukuji the First (Mizuno Zenzaburo) as his father, Tofukuji the son began creating pottery himself while assisting his father, but became distant from the family business as he was summoned to fight during World War II, and worked different jobs after the war. However, he began creating pottery again after his father’s death, and inherited his father’s artist name as Tofukuji the Second.
Though it is said that the first Tofukuji was his master, he was never taught technical skills in pottery, as he learned by watching his father work. He developed his own style by studying his late father’s work and glazes.
He inherited his father’s potter’s mark, but distinguished his own work from his father’s by adding symbols such as “the Second,” “Yu,” or “by Yu” under the First’s signature mark.
