ホモテナシ

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• Born in Sakai, in a time when Japan was in constant war (Warring States) (1467-1615)
  • Sakai was a merchant city, trading spot with China and Portuguese, including weapons, which the tea men traded with warlords
  • We have a letter from Nobunaga thanking 利休 for 1000 muskets
  • So it's likely that Nobunaga liked 利休 because of that, not just for his aesthetic.
  • So Nobunaga formed special bonds with the merchants of Sakai in the tea room
• 1582 Nobunaga dies, Hideyoshi becomes 利休's boss. As his advisor, he would also oversee the castle when 秀吉 was absent (so he was pretty important)

• Other names: 宗易（そおえき）
• Students: なんぼう, やまのうえ (tortured and killed by 秀吉), and 織部

• Suicide most likely for political reasons
  • Statue at Daitokuji? (But it was quite common for statues of donors to be placed like 利休's on the second floor)
  • Tea object market manipulation? (But 秀吉 was also part of it, and benefited from high tea toy prices)
  • Killed himself with a sword made by 粟田口藤四郎吉光（あわたぐち　とうしろう　よしみつ）, a great swordsmith. (article)