According to Tamesaburo YAGI who was a child of a house where the Shinsengumi was stationed, 'he was not so tall, had fair-skinned lovable face, liked kids and talked to them wherever he met them' (Rojin Mibu Banashi (the Aged Mibu Story) by Tamesaburo YAGI).
新選組が駐屯した家の子どもであった八木為三郎によれば「丈はあまり高くなく、色白の愛嬌のある顔」であり、「子どもが好きで、どこで逢ってもきっと何か声をかけた」（『八木為三郎老人壬生話』）という。