He was one of the people (including Shigenobu OKUMA) who didn't appreciate Takamori SAIGO at all and likened him to Takauji ASHIKAGA, who rose up in revolt during the Kenmu Restoration.
西郷隆盛を全く評価していなかった1人であり（大隈重信も同様）、西郷を建武の新政で反旗を翻した足利尊氏に見立てていたという。