Kimura was replaced by Rear Admiral Tomiji Koyanagi who was also designated as commander of the Reinforcement Unit, but for the Ke operation Hashimoto was selected to command the unit.
Kimura blev erstattet med kontreadmiral Tomiji Koyanagi, som også var udset til at lede forstærkningsheden, men til Ke-operationen blev Hashimoto udvalgt til at lede enheden.