Being known as a heavy drinker, he is considered to have had almost no rice (even when he occasionally had rice, he ate only a grain or two) but had meals only with sake (rice wine) and side dishes for 50 years or the latter half of his life.
大変な酒好きとして知られ、人生後半の50年は飯をほとんど口にせず（たまに食べる時も一粒二粒と数えるほど）、酒と肴だけで済ませていたという。