The well known successors to Rikyu were SEN no Doan and SEN no Shoan; the former was a son of Rikyu's first wife Myoju HOSHIN, and the latter was a son between Rikyu's second wife SEN no Soon and her previous husband, and Shoan was also known as a husband of Rikyu's daughter. In addition to them, these two people were also Rikyu's successors: Soan MOZUYA, husband of Rikyu's daughter, and SEN no Shoji.
後継者としては先妻宝心妙樹の子である嫡男千道安と、後妻千宗恩の連れ子で娘婿でもある千少庵が有名であるが、この他に娘婿の万代屋宗安、千紹二の名前が挙げられる。