Furuta Oribe is ordered to become tea master under Toyotomi Hideyoshi after his teacher Sen no Rikyū, the former tea master, was ordered to commit suicide. Princess Goh, daughter of the lord but adopted by Hideyoshi, is outraged when Rikyū's severed head is thrown in the Nijo River. She sends Usu, Oribe's servant, to retrieve the head and deliver it to Rikyū's adopted daughter.

Rikyu is a biographical drama set in 16th century Japan during the Sengoku period. It tells the story of Rikyu, a tea master who served powerful warlords and played a crucial role in the Japanese tea ceremony. The film explores Rikyu's life, his dedication to tradition, and his conflicted relationship with the warlords. Through Rikyu's art of tea, the movie delves into the complexities of Japanese culture and the turbulent historical backdrop of the 1500s.