 The 48th Division was initially part of the Taiwan Army, before being reassigned to the IJA 14th Army on 12 August 1941.In preparation for the Pacific War, the division was mechanized (along with the IJA 5th Division, which was completed 6 November 1941.Under the command of Lieutenant General Yuitsu Tsuchihashi, the IJA 48th Division was among the first Japanese forces to land in the Philippines as part of the IJA 14th Army, and captured Manila, but did not participate in the Battle of Bataan.