He was praised as one of the 'twin jewels of the Renpeikan' alongside Nobori (Noboru) WATANABE from Omura clan who attained 'menkyo-kaiden' around the same time (and who later introduced Ryoma SAKAMOTO to the Choshu clan in Nagasaki).
小五郎と同時期に免許皆伝を得た大村藩の渡邊昇（後に、長州藩と坂本龍馬を長崎で結びつけた人物）とともに、練兵館の双璧と称えられた。