 From 1935-1936, he commanded the Artillery Regiment of the Imperial Guard, and served as Chief of Army Affairs Section of Military Affairs Bureau within the Ministry of War from 1936-1938.At the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War, Machijiri was again appointed as Aide-de-camp to Emperor Hirohito in 1937, but was soon transferred to become Vice Chief of Staff of the Northern China Area Army.He returned to Japan the same year for staff duties within the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff, but was sent into the field again from 1939-1941 as commander of the IJA 6th Division.