Musashi's biography "Buko-den" describes his popularity in Kumamoto "according to Shisui (Gengozaemon YAMAMOTO, a direct disciple of Musashi), over a thousand swordsmen, including the Lord, of course, NAGAOKA Shikibu Yoriyuki, SAWAMURA Uemon Tomoyoshi, vassals, secretaries, vassals of other clans, guest retainers and statesmen in lower position, from all over the Higo Province (present Kumamoto Prefecture), came and entered Musashi's school."
『武公伝』は武蔵直弟子であった士水（山本源五左衛門）の直話として「士水伝えて云、武公肥後にての門弟、太守はじめ長岡式部寄之、沢村宇右衛門友好、その他、御家中、御側、外様、及陪臣、軽士に至り千余人なり」とこぞって武蔵門下に入ったことを伝えている。