He was famous for being a good combination and rivalry with kengyo KIKUOKA, but he was forced to eat the leftovers of KIKUOKA who had assumed a kengyo earlier and bore a grudge against KIKUOKA, but when there was an ensemble with KIKUOKA he played the koto freely and beat KIKUOKA down and next time KIKUOKA improvised staggeringly blowing him out and at last they thawed and became good musical friends.
菊岡検校とは名コンビ、良きライバルとして有名で、先に検校へと登官した菊岡から食事の残り物を食べさせられたのを遺恨に思い、菊岡との合奏の際に箏を縦横無尽に弾き菊岡を打ち負かしたが、菊岡も次には八重崎を圧倒するほどの即興演奏を行ない、そうこうする内に互いに打ちとけて良き楽友となったという。