After serving in various staff positions at the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff, Artillery School and in the Inspectorate General of Military Training, Sumiyoshi was appointed Chief of Staff of the IJA 3rd Division.
Efter at have gjort tjeneste i forskellige stabsfunktioner ved den kejserlige generalstab, artilleriskolen og generalinspektoratet for militær uddannelse blev Sumiyoshi udpeget til stabschef i den 3. division.