Fifty-Seventh Army (Japan)

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The Fifty-Seventh Army of Japan was a unit of the Imperial Japanese Army formed on April 8, 1945, to defend Kyushu against a possible Allied invasion in Operation Downfall. It was based in Takarabe, Kagoshima Prefecture, and was made up mainly of poorly trained reservists, drafted students, and local home guard volunteers. Although Japan could raise many soldiers, equipment and ammunition were scarce. By August, the homeland had about 65 divisions, but only enough gear for 40 divisions and ammo for around 30. The army concentrated its resources on Kyushu, reportedly holding roughly 40% of the remaining ammunition in the Home Islands. The Patriotic Citizens Fighting Corps was mobilized to support combat, including men aged 15–60 and women 17–40, many armed with muskets, bows, or bamboo spears. The 57th Army was demobilized on August 15, 1945, when Japan surrendered, and it did not see combat.