The diaries of Kamiya Sōtan 神谷宗湛 (1551-1635), a wealthy merchant and tea ceremony master in Fukuoka Prefecture. Written between 1586 and 1613, the diaries give details of tea ceremonies conducted in Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Sakai, Hakata and other locations. The environment of each ceremony, movements of the tea masters, and tea implements are all described in great detail. Famous tea ceremonies described in the diaries include the great tea ceremony at Osaka-jō 大坂城 hosted by Toyotomi Hideyoshi 豊臣秀吉 (1536-98) on January 3, 1587, where Sōtan was the guest of honor. The diaries are valued not only for their descriptions of the tea ceremony but also as an important source of information on the political, economical and cultural history of the time.