As a midshipman, he was assigned to the Iwate on its 1915 cruise from Sasebo to Chemulpo, Port Arthur, Dairen, Chinkai, Maizuru and Toba.

In 1916, Iwate made a cruise to Hong Kong, Singapore, Fremantle, Sydney, Melbourne, Wellington, Auckland, Jaluit Atoll, Ponape and Truk.

He returned to training school to study torpedo tactics and early submarine warfare in 1918, during which time he received a promotion to sub-lieutenant, after which he was assigned to the Katori.

He was assigned to the cruiser Yakumo on a cruise in 1926: (Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Colombo, Aden, Port Said, Constantinople, Athens, Naples, Toulon, Marseilles, Barcelona, Malta, Alexandria, Djibouti, Mombasa, Columbo, Batavia and Manila).

He was the main Japanese commander at the minor Battle off Horaniu and larger Naval Battle of Vella Lavella, during which time he successfully evacuated the 600 man Japanese garrison from the island of Vella Lavella, while repulsing attacks by American naval forces under Admiral Frank R. Walker on 6–7 October 1943.