Tokyo Express
At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hashimoto was in command of the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla, covering landings of Japanese forces in Malaya. From August until late-November, 1942, he commanded Tokyo Express missions during the Guadalcanal Campaign. In January 1943, Hashimoto's destroyers participated in “Operation Ke”, and successfully evacuated 11,700 surviving Japanese troops from Guadalcanal.