[6] At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, Matsukaze was assigned to Destroyer Division 5 of Desron 5 in the IJN 3rd Fleet, and deployed from Mako Guard District in the Pescadores as part of the Japanese invasion force for the Operation M (the invasion of the Philippines), during which time it helped screen landings of Japanese forces at Lingayen Gulf.

Assigned to Operation J (the invasion of Java in the Netherlands East Indies), she participated at the Battle of Sunda Strait on 1 March 1942.

From June through September, she made several "Tokyo Express" troop transport runs to Kolombangara and participated in the evacuation of Japanese forces from Vella Lavella in October.

On 9 December 1943, Matsukaze returned to Rabaul and continued to make numerous "Tokyo Express" runs throughout the Solomon Islands, especially to New Britain through the end of January.

Matsukaze had the misfortune to be at Truk on 17–18 February 1944 during Operation Hailstorm, when the United States Navy launched a massive and crippling air raid on the Japanese fleet.

Matsukaze escaped with medium damage caused by near misses and strafing attacks, and returned to Yokosuka via Saipan and Hahajima by 1 March for repairs.

[10] After repairs were completed by May 1944 Matsukaze was reassigned to Destroyer Division 30 of Desron 3 in the Central Pacific Area Fleet for convoy escort between the Japanese home islands and Saipan.