It was essential for them to know the exact date when they could expect that Kozukenosuke KIRA would be in residence at the Kira-tei; they learned from Shihen Yamada, a chajin (master of tea ceremony) that a tea ceremony would be held at his residence on December 14, of whom Azumamaro KADA, a scholar of classical Japanese literature and an old friend of Kuranosuke and his comrade Gengo OTAKA acting as Shinbei WAKIYA were disciples.
また吉良上野介在邸確実の日を知る必要もあり、内蔵助旧知の国学者荷田春満や同志大高源五が脇屋新兵衛として入門していた茶人山田宗偏から12月14日に吉良邸で茶会がある情報を入手させた。