After serving as staff officer of the Imperial Guard Division, on June 18, he was promoted to colonel of the army engineers and chief of staff of the Imperial Guard Division; and in April, he departed for the front of the Sino-Japanese War.
近衛師団参謀を経て、6月18日工兵大佐・近衛師団参謀長に進んで4月から日清戦争に出征する。