It is said that Takeshiro, who had realized that his number was up, left the following words to those close to him: "Bury my body in Hokkaido, and I will be sure to protect the place from Russia."
死を悟った武四郎は親しい者たちに「我が躯は北海道に埋めよ、必ずやかの地をロシアから守らん」と述べたという。