 In November 1903, he was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, 1st class.Inoue continued to command the IJA 12th Division from the start of the Russo-Japanese War, participating in almost every major combat from the Battle of the Yalu through the final Battle of Mukden.After the end of the war, in July 1906, he was transferred to command the IJA 4th Division and was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun and the Order of the Golden Kite, 2nd class.