 Ramba uchiverenga ndima ino - Kubva munaNovember 1936, Sugiyama akagadzwa seMukuru weVashandi veIJN 3rd Fleet, uye nokudaro aive pachinzvimbo chepamusoro chekutungamira kwemauto emauto eJapan muChina panguva yekutanga kwechipiri Hondo yeChina neJapan. Akagadzwa kuti akumbire ruregerero rwepamutemo kuUnited States pamusoro pechiitiko cheUSS Panaymuna 1937. Sugiyama akasimudzirwa kuva mutevedzeri wamadmiral pana November 15, 1940. Musi waJuly 5, 1941, Sugiyama akagadzwa kuva Mutungamiriri Mukuru weIJN 3rd Fleet. 