After graduating from Meijo University, Junzō enrolled in the Kyoto Traditional Arts Super College in 2002, where he studied the fundamentals of traditional crafts and refined his artistic foundation. It was there that he met his wife, Taeko. Drawn to decorative painting, she has since collaborated closely with him, applying elegant and sophisticated designs to selected works. Their partnership has become a unique creative dialogue, combining Junzō's refined forms with Taeko's graceful decorative sensibility.

One of the most distinctive aspects of Junzō's work is his direct connection to the land itself. The clay used for many of his teapots is sourced from deposits located within the grounds of his own workshop. His celebrated hon-shudei teapots are therefore not only handmade by the artist but are also born from the very soil of Tokoname, creating an intimate relationship between material, maker, and place.

Maekawa's teapots are immediately recognizable for their originality and exceptional balance. His flat teapots (hirakyusu), in particular, challenge conventional expectations of teaware and often surprise viewers with their innovative silhouettes. Beneath their apparent simplicity lies remarkable technical precision. His lid fitting is renowned among collectors and tea practitioners, demonstrating a level of craftsmanship that enables him to create highly complex forms

Hon-shudei (本朱泥) translates to 'real vermillion clay' or 'original vermillion clay' and refers to the traditional clay used to make high-quality teaware in Tokoname, originally in imitation of Chinese red clays like those found in Chauzhou. The modifier 'original' is required because the vast majority of red shudei teapots produced in Tokoname today use modern blended clay which is tinted red with the addition of iron oxide.

The original shudei is naturally yellow in colour, only attaining its eponymous hue when fired in oxidation. During this firing, the iron in the clay reacts with the oxygen in the air, producing the vibrant rust-red colour. As this colour is naturally occurring, hon-shudei wares tend to vary significantly in their exact hue and generally have a softer, more subdued red than the modern blended clays.

Hon-shudei is also known for its porosity, which while not as extreme as the Chinese Chouzhou clay it seeks to replicate, does have a gentle softening effect on tea brewed in hon-shudei kyusu.