It was said that wishes of Tetsuji TAKECHI, his master, had strong influence on this succession, but during kojo (a ceremony to announce that an actor takes a new stage name), he received a remark 'He is essentially, not the person who should succeed to the family name of Takenojo', from the leader of troupe Uzaemon ICHIZAWA XVII, which may be taken as a severe criticism, and the discord with Tachibana head family was clearly brought to light.
この襲名には、師である武智鉄二の意向が強く働いていたと言われるが、襲名披露の口上の席で座頭である市村羽左衛門(17代目)より「本来ならば、竹之丞の名跡を継ぐべき人ではない」との強烈な批判ともとれる発言をされるなど、橘屋宗家との確執が浮き彫りになった。