During the Battle of Midway in May 1942, "Namikaze" was assigned to the reserve force for the Aleutian Islands Operation, which did not leave Japanese waters. Afterwards, she returned to patrol and escort duties based out of Ōminato through July 1943, with the ship's patrol area extended to include much of Honshū as far south as Ise Bay. In July she was assigned temporarily to the IJN 5th Fleet for the mission to evacuate surviving Japanese forces from Kiska, but only performed backup duties. She was slightly damaged in a collision with the coastal patrol vessel "Manei Maru No.7" at the entry to Otaru port, Hokkaidō on 6 November 1943. "Namikaze" continued to be based at Ōminato for patrol and escort in northern waters until December 1943.