He entered the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy on 2 December 1905 and graduated from its 36th class on 21 November 1908, ranking 15th out of 191 cadets.

Promoted to lieutenant on 1 December 1914, he served on the cruiser Katori, battlecruiser Ibuki, battleship Kawachi and destroyer Umikaze.

In 1922, he wrote a report to the Navy General Staff on the importance of protecting merchant shipping in times of war.

In 1937, he accompanied Prince Chichibu to England for the Coronation Ceremonies of King George VI, afterwards visiting France, Germany and the United States.

He nominally shared the position of Head of Japanese Occupation Forces in Hong Kong with General Takashi Sakai, but his authority was limited to offshore areas.