His nickname was "Hanashin" because of his characteristic nose, and his tall stature, white complexion and large eyes caused him to be mistakenly identified as a European by his instructor, Klemens Wilhelm Jacob MECKEL, while he was a student in the army college.
風貌は特徴的な鼻から「鼻信」とあだ名され、長身で色白、大きな目であり、陸軍大学校時代には教官のクレメンス・ウィルヘルム・ヤコブ・メッケルからヨーロッパ人と間違えられたというエピソードがある。