In later years, Yajiro SHINAGAWA (Viscount), a graduate of Shokason-juku and a Genkun (veteran statesman) of the Meiji period is claimed to have said 'If Toshimaro had lived, he would have been prime minister' in later years.
後年、松下村塾の同門生で後の明治の元勲にもなった品川弥次郎(子爵)が「稔麿が生きていたら総理大臣になっただろう」と語ったとされる。