19th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)

19th Division
IJA 73rd Infantry Regiment HQ, Ranam, Korea
Active	24 December 1915 - 1945
Country	Empire of Japan
Branch	Imperial Japanese Army
Type	Infantry
Garrison/HQ	Ranam, North Hamgyong Province, Korea
Nickname(s)	Tiger Division
Engagements	Japanese invasion of Manchuria Battle of Lake Khasan Battle of Luzon

The 19th Division (第19師団, Dai-jūkyū Shidan) was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its tsūshōgō code name was the Tiger Division (虎兵團, Tora heidan). It was also occasionally referred to in Korean accounts as Ranam Division, after the location of its main base. The 19th Division and the 20th Division were both raised as a garrison force for Korea. After Japan's victory in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, and subsequent occupation, and then annexation of Korea in 1910, the need was felt for a dedicated garrison force, raised from people with local knowledge. The 19th Division was stationed in far northeast Korea, in what is now North Hamgyong Province. The division received its colors on 24 December 1915 and headquarters have moved to Yongsan District 16 April 1916; however, the division was not considered combat-ready until 1918. The delay was due to limited funding available for the division to build its facilities in Korea and the need to recruit and train personnel from mainland Japan. In addition, the new division was beset with problems related to malaria and shigellosis at its main base at Ranam in northern Korea, having recorded 672 disease-related officers casualties during 1917. As result, the headquarters have moved to Ranam-guyok only 10 April 1919. The first commander of the 19th Division was Lieutenant General Tachibana Koichirō.