During the war, he created "Kancho Imada Shisezu" (The Spy Is Not Yet Deed) in 1942 and "Kaisen no Zenya" (On the Eve of War) in 1943 which, although both strongly nationalist, were popular because of the suspense in the style of American films.
また戦時中は1942年に『間諜未だ死せず』、1943年に『開戦の前夜』といった国策色の強い映画ながら、アメリカ映画ばりのサスペンス調の演出で人気を呼ぶ。