Some people, such as Ryotaro SHIBA, regard Naosuke bitterly, claiming that 'he oppressed the Joi-ha, but was not aiming for the opening of Japan to the West, even hated the West' (summary of statements in the novel "Kashin" or 'Flower God').
司馬遼太郎のように「攘夷派を弾圧したが開国論でもなく西洋嫌いであった（『花神(小説)』の記述を要約）」と彼に対して厳しい評価をする者もいる。