From 1889 to 1891, he held the post of Chief of Naval Staff Officer Division, and after serving as Commander-in-Chief of the Readiness Fleet, in 1892, he was promoted to Vice Admiral and Commander-in-Chief of Kure Chinjufu (Kure Naval District) and reached Sino-Japanese War.
1889年から1891年まで海軍参謀部長、さらに常備艦隊長官を経て、1892年に海軍中将・呉鎮守府司令長官となり日清戦争を迎えた。