During the Seinan War, whenever the war council was held and the warlords got together, Takamori first asked, "Isn't Shinpachi present?" So, Murata was respected under the care of Saigo.'
十年の役、軍議ある毎に、諸将会するや、隆盛先づ問て曰く『新八在らざる乎』と、西郷の為に推重せらるゝや、此の如し」と評している。