A warrior from the late Muromachi to Azuchi-Momoyama period, Otomo Sorin was born in 1530 (Kyoroku 3). He was the eldest son of Otomo Yoshikane, lord of the castle in Fuchi (Oita City) in Bungo Province. He succeeded to the governorship in 1550, and in 1562, at the age of 33, he shaved his head and assumed the name of Kyuan Sorin. He fought with the Mori clan of Aki and the Ryuzoji clan of Hizen for many years, but was unable to defeat the Shimazu clan of Satsuma, and in 1586 (Tensho 14), he came to Osaka Castle and asked for support from Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
He died on May 27, 1587, at the age of 58. He was a follower of Christianity and called himself Francis, and supported missionary work by establishing orphanages, charity hospitals, church buildings, schools, training schools, and training camps in his domain. He learned tea ceremony from Tennojiya Dosari, and possessed such famous tea utensils as a Gyokukan yamaichi haruzuan jikka no jar, Matsumoto gourd jukko bunrin, Nitta hagashu, hyakkan nasu, and Yasui tea bowls, most of which he presented to Hideyoshi.
