After serving in a number of administrative positions within the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff, he was again given a field command during World War I, commanding the IJA 18th Division at the Battle of Tsingtao.
Setelah melayani di sejumlah posisi administratif dalam Staf Umum Tentara Kekaisaran Jepang, ia kembali diberi perintah lapangan selama Perang Dunia I, memimpin Divisi IJA ke-18 di Pertempuran Tsingtao.