In January 1942, she served as a troop transport in the second echelon of the Ambon invasion force (consisting of transports "Yamura Maru", "Yamagiri Maru", "Kirishima Maru", "Hino Maru #5", and "Katsuragi Maru") escorted by the 8th Destroyer Division (consisting of destroyers , , , and ), and minesweepers "W-9" and "W-11" which delivered 5,300 personnel consisting of the Itō Detachment of the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA), under Major General Takeo Itō, comprising the 38th Division HQ and the 228th Infantry Regiment, along with marines from the 1st Kure Special Naval Landing Force (part of the China Area Fleet), and two platoons of the Sasebo SNLF under Rear Admiral Koichiro Hatakeyama. In May 1942, she participated in the Battle of Midway (Operation "MI") where she was assigned to Miyamoto Sadachika's 16th Minesweeper Unit (along with auxiliary minesweepers , , , ; submarine chasers , , and ; cargo ship "Meiyo Maru"; and auxiliary ammunition ship ).