In March 1940, he was promoted to major general, and briefly returned to China as Chief of Staff of the Japanese First Army, during which time he initiated an unsuccessful attempted to woo Chinese warlord Yan Xishan of Shanxi Province to support the Japanese cause.
In March 1940, Major General was promoted and served for a short time as Chief of Staff of the Japanese First Army in China. During that period, he tried unsuccessfully to recruit Chinese warlord Yan Xishan from Shanxi Province to aid Japan's cause.