She was propelled by two Kampon steam turbine engines with two boilers driving two shafts, producing 2,200 hp (1,600 kW) and had a top speed of 17 knots.

On commissioning on 15 July 1939, she was assigned to the Yokosuka Naval District and attached to the 1st China Expeditionary Fleet, arriving in Shanghai on 15 November.

[2] On 8 December 1941, Fushimi became the flagship for Vice Admiral Prince Teruhisa Komatsu’s First China Fleet Yangtze Squadron, Upper River Division, and supported operations by the Imperial Japanese Army.

She was repaired in Shanghai in July 1942, and was reassigned to the Middle River Division based at Hankou from 2 August.

[2] From 4 September 1943, Fushimi was attached to the Lower River Division, and patrolled Tung Ting Lake and adjacent waterways from 10 November.