According to an account of officers and men of the second battalion in "Seinan Kiden Book," Murata was described as 'Shinpachi had a rugged look, with height 1.8 meters and penetrating eyes which could cut into people, and he was very calm in his behavior.
『西南記伝』二番大隊将士伝に村田新八を「新八、人と為り、状貌魁偉、身長六尺、眼光炯々（けいけい）人を射る、而も挙止深沈にして大度あり。