He faced many troubles during his study abroad, including being called "to go China" (a play of words on his name), and his outgoing personality turned completely silent.
留学先では「Togo、China（「支那に行け」の意）」とからかわれるなど苦労が多く、おしゃべりだった性格はすっかり無口になってしまったと言われている。