In March 1895, Kawakami was appointed to the Chief of Staff assigned to the Government General to defeat Qing, and the intense effort he had been making to modernize the Japanese army succeeded and distinguished war service.
1895年（明治28年）3月には征清総督府参謀長に任命され、かねてから川上が大いに推し進めた軍の近代化が功を奏し戦功を挙げる。