2nd Division (Imperial Japanese Army)

2nd Division
The IJA 2nd Division celebrates landing at Merak, Java during World War II.
Active	1888 - 1945
Country	Empire of Japan
Branch	Imperial Japanese Army
Type	Infantry
Garrison/HQ	Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
Nickname(s)	"Courageous Division"
Engagements	First Sino-Japanese War Battle of Seonghwan Battle of Lushunkou Russo-Japanese War Battle of Yalu River (1904) Battle of Motien Pass Battle of Liaoyang Battle of Shaho Battle of Sandepu Battle of Mukden World War II Battle of Khalkhin Gol Battle of Java Guadalcanal campaign Battle of Central Burma

First Sino-Japanese War

Russo-Japanese War

World War II

The 2nd Division (第2師団, Dai-ni shidan^?) was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call-sign was Courageous Division (勇兵団, Isamu-heidan^?).

The 2nd Division was formed in Sendai, Miyagi, in January 1871 as the Sendai Garrison (仙台鎮台, Sendai chindai^?), one of six regional commands created in the fledgling Imperial Japanese Army. The Sendai Garrison had responsibility for northern region of Honshū (Tohoku district), ranging from Fukushima Prefecture to Aomori Prefecture. The six regional commands were transformed into divisions under the army reorganization of 14 May 1888.

The headquarters of the 2nd Division was located in the Ni-no-maru of Sendai Castle, where the campus of Tohoku University is now located. Its original composition included the 4th Infantry Regiment (raised in Sendai), 5th Infantry Regiment (raised in Aomori), 16th Infantry Regiment (raised in Shibata) and the 17th Infantry Regiment (raised in Akita). In the reorganization prior to World War II, the 29th Infantry Regiment (raised in Wakamatsu) was added.