How accountability led Kawano into mine-warfare command

Kawano's early operational career concentrated on surface ships. In 2008, while he was director of defense in the Maritime Staff Office, the Aegis destroyer Atago collided with a fishing boat. He accepted responsibility and transferred to the Maritime Support Force before taking command of the minesweeper force. He appears to have found mine warfare particularly interesting and worked to improve and promote that specialist force. His performance in the role led to command of the escort fleet and then the vice chiefship of the Joint Staff.