 Ramba uchiverenga ndima iyi - Panguva yakarwiswa Pearl Harbor muna 1941, Iwabuchi akanga ari kaputeni wengarava yaibhururuka nepamvura. Akagoverwazve kuvashandi veCombined Fleet musi wa25 Kurume 1942, uye akazopihwa kutungamira kwechikepe chehondo musi wa20 Kubvumbi 1942. Zvisinei, Kirishima yakanyudzwa muHondo yechipiri yeNaval yeGuadalcanalmusi wa15 November wegore iroro. Vhiki rimwe gare gare, musi wa22 Mbudzi, Iwabuchi akapiwa basa rekutungamira 11th Air Fleet inotarisira mabasa emhepo pamusoro peGuadacanal neRabaul. 