Unlike his father, who was infamous ignorant "dog" lord for betraying bakufu forces at Boshin War (his betrayal put the bakufu forces to flight, and he was accused as a "traitor's dog" by both enemy, bakufu and the ally, new government), he allegedly had wisdom, warm personality and excellent talent of paintings and calligraphic works.
戊辰戦争時に幕府軍を裏切って、幕府軍敗走の原因を作った暗愚な藩主として有名な「犬」藩主（「裏切り者の犬」として、敵の幕府や味方の新政府からも虚仮下ろされた）の父と違い、賢明温厚で、書画の才にも優れていたと言われている。