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In the 1580's Rikyu's prestige was at its peak and at the same time Rikyu's chanoyu also reached the height of its accomplishment.
On October 7 of Tensho 13 (1585), at the Kinri tea gathering held to commemorate Hideyoshi's appointment to the position of kanpaku (chief advisor to the emperor) Hideyoshi served tea to the Emperor Ogimachi and Rikyu acted as his assistant. At this time Rikyu was also invested with a kojigo (enlightened layman's title) by the Emperor. Both in name and reality his position as the greatest tea master in Japan was established.
In Tensho 15 (1587), Rikyu accompanied Hideyoshi when he attacked Shimazu in Kyushu, holding tea gatherings in places such as Hakozakinomiya in Hakata, and deepening his association with wealthy merchants such as Kamiya Sotan, Shimai Soshitsu and so on. In the autumn of 1587 Hideyoshi's Jurakudai villa was also completed and Rikyu was granted a residence nearby. Rikyu's residence in Yoshiyamachi Motoseiganjimae had a cypress wood shoin room, an irotsuke('coloured') 18-mat shoin room, a four-and-a-half mat room and a two mat room. The present Zangetsutei tea room at Omotesenke is said to be a replica of the coloured tea room at the Juraku residence. It is said that when Hideyoshi visited Rikyu's residence he rested against the main pillar in the tokonoma (alcove) to observe the lingering dawn moon and so the room is called Zangetsutei 'Lingering moon'.
On October 1 of Tensho 15 (1587) Hideyoshi held the Grand Kitano tea gathering in the grounds of the Kitano Tenmangu Shrine. This was held by Hideyoshi, who had unified virtually the whole nation under his rule, to demonstrate his authority to the world. Many of the famous utensils that he owned were used. Rikyu, along with Tsuda Sogyu, Imai Sokyu and others was involved in the production of this event. It is said that as many as 800 locations were used for preparing tea and the gathering had a great influence on the popularity of chanoyu.

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