During the Second Sino-Japanese War, Kijima was chief of the Special Operations of the IJA 123rd Infantry Regiment from May 1938. In July of the same year, he was promoted to colonel. Kijima was active at the Battle of Wuhan and the Battle of Nanchang. However, in April 1940, he was demobilized and attached to the reserve IJA 6th Depot Division based in Kumamoto. In August 1940, Kijima was recalled to active status, and posted back as the commanding officer of the 123rd Regiment. Kijima was promoted to major general in March 1943 and was assigned command of the IJA 17th Infantry Brigade. In May 1943, the IJA 17th Infantry Brigade came under the command of the Japanese Eighth Area Army in the Japanese-occupied Solomon Islands and New Guinea. It had its headquarters at Rabaul, New Britain. Kijima was initially in charge of the defenses of western New Britain. In July 1944, Kijima was given command of the IJA 38th Independent Mixed Brigade of the IJA 17th Army on Bougainville Island upon its formation. The brigade fought at the Battle of Pearl Ridge during the Bougainville Campaign against the Australian Army, but was defeated on 1 January 1945 after three days. The retreat of the brigade southwards towards Buin was refused, and it subsequently became isolated at Numa Numa until the cessation of hostilities.