"Ibuki" was the only protection for the ANZACs when "Sydney" participated in the Battle of Cocos. The commander of "Ibuki", Captain Kanji Katō had wanted the honor of engaging "Emden", but despite being a superior ship to "Sydney" was ordered to stand down and stay with the convoy. This was later celebrated by the Royal Australian Navy as the "samurai spirit of the "Ibuki"" whenever Imperial Japanese ships visited Australia in subsequent years.