After serving in a number of administrative positions with the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff, Inada was assigned as a military attaché to France from 1929-1931. After his promotion to colonel, Inada served as Chief of the 2nd Section (Maneuvers &amp; War Plans), 1st Bureau, of the General Staff from 1938 to 1939, and was thus involved in the planning of the Battle of Wuhan and subsequent operations in the Second Sino-Japanese War. Inada was also involved in the planning for the ill-fated Battle of Lake Khasan and Battle of Khalkhin Gol in the Soviet-Japanese Border Wars.