Imai Sōkyū

Imai Sōkyū was a Japanese merchant who made his fortune in arms trade specializing in production of firearms and ammunition.

Originally from Yamato Province, Sōkyū settled in port town Sakai. There he entered the service of Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, powerful feudal lords, both as arms trader and master of the tea ceremony (chanoyu). He was allowed by lord Nobunaga to exploit the rich silver and iron reserves in a province west of Sakai, and in turn was obliged to sell him firearms and gunpowder.

Sōkyū studied tea ceremony under Takeno Jōō, his father-in-law and another Sakai merchant whose daughter he married. Sōkyū passed on his business and his official post to his son, Imai Sōkun, who continued his father's legacy. He died in 1593, at the age of 73.