He had another name of 'Army General NOGI of Satsuma' from his excellent knowledge about Waka (Japanese poetry) and Chinese poetry, his past of losing his son in the Battle of Lushun and his career of being Principal of the Gakushuin School Corporation in succession to NOGI in addition to his ancient-warrior look.
古武士的な風貌に加え、和歌や漢詩に長じ、息子を旅順戦で亡くしたり、乃木の後任として学習院長を務めるなどの経歴から「薩摩の乃木大将」の異名を持つ。