77th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)

The 77th Division was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the Shield Division.

Formed on February 4, 1944, in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, as part of the 8th wave of divisional creations, the 77th Division was primarily a static garrison division. It was initially placed under the command of the Northern District Army.

Its main operational area was Hokkaidō, specifically responsible for the defense of the southern part of the island and its coastal regions against potential Allied landings. The division was composed primarily of conscripted reservists and equipped with relatively outdated weaponry compared to front-line divisions.

The 77th Division saw no combat during World War II. Following the surrender of Japan in August 1945, the division was demobilized.