There is a story that he started to call himself 'Sokei' (the second Sokei) after Nobunaga ODA complimented him on how well he used the keima (knight); however, its reality is uncertain.
その「宗桂」は織田信長から、桂馬の使い方が巧いとお褒めの言葉を貰い、以後「宗桂」と名乗るようになったという話もあるが、真偽のほどは確かではない。