[2] She worked as a cargo ship until 16 December 1940, when she was requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy for service as an auxiliary gunboat.

[2][3] On 15 January 1941, her outfitting was completed at the Sakurajima facility of Osaka Iron Works and she was assigned to the Maizuru Naval District.

[5][2] The 3rd Gunboat Division was assigned to the Batan Island occupation force which began simultaneously with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor tasked with establishing an air base to support future operations against American forces on Luzon during the invasion of the Philippines.

2), Imperial Japanese Army transport Teiun Maru (carrying part of the 24th Airfield Battalion),[8] Imperial Japanese Navy transport Kumagawa Maru[9] (carrying 490 men of the Sasebo Special Naval Landing Forces),[10] destroyer Yamagumo, four Chidori-class torpedo boats (Chidori, Manazuru, Tomozuru, Hatsukari), two W-13-class minesweepers (W-13, W-14), two patrol boats (Patrol Boat No.

2), two Tsubame-class minelayers (Kamome, Tsubame),[9] and seaplane tender, Sanuki Maru escorted by destroyer Tachikaze.