According to Kondo's reminiscences, when Koichi NEGISHI, general manager of the head office saw Murata for the first time, Kondo was accused by him saying 'Such a small man can't be a director.'
近藤の回想によると初めて村田を見た本社の根岸耕一支配人に「あんな小さな男で監督が出来るかッ」と叱られたという。