With the start if the Pacific War, Sumiyoshi commanded the 17th Army's heavy artillery units along with two supporting infantry regiments during the strategically significant Guadalcanal campaign in the Solomon Islands, including the Battle for Henderson Field.
I starten af Stillehavskrigen havde Sumiyoshi kommandoen over 17. armes svære artillerienheder foruden to infanteriregimenter under det strategisk betydningsfulde slag om Guadalcanaæ på Salomonøerne, herunder slaget om Henderson Field.