In later years Kaishu KATSU commented, 'Among Saigo's men, Kirino and Murata had an exceptional talent' (in "Kaishu's Talks at the Hikawa Mansion" [Hikawa Seiwa]), while Shigenobu OKUMA talked, 'Concerning Toshiaki KIRINO who was a formidable leader of Satsuma next to Saigo in the Seinan War, he was a very capable man and also gaudy. He had a large and splendid body as well as splendid appearance and attitude, and he never wore kimono awkwardly and all of his clothes were very clean without any dirtiness' ("Shibenobu's Talks in Waseda" [Waseda Seiwa]).
後年、勝海舟は「（西郷の）部下にも、桐野とか村田とかいうのは、なかなか俊才であった」（『氷川清話』）、大隈重信は「西南の役に大西郷に次いでの薩摩の驍将桐野利秋、彼はすこぶる才幹の男であったが、これがやはり派手であった。身体も大きくて立派なら容貌態度ともに優れた男であったが、着物をぶざまに着るようなまねはせず、それも汚れ目の見えぬきれいな物づくめであった」（『早稲田清話』）と評している。