 From February 1894 he was sent for six months to Europe, returning in October 1894 to assume the post of chief-of-staff of the Japanese Second Army during the First Sino-Japanese War.After his promotion to major general in May 1895, Inoue was given command of the.He subsequent was commander of the IJA 3rd Division in 1898 and promoted to lieutenant general in March 1899 and commander of the newly formed IJA 12th Division.