The 8th Division (initially only the 4th Brigade participated in the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in the aftermath of the Mukden Incident in September 1931 and was assigned to Jiandao. The bulk of the division arrived in April 1932, and the division was at the Battle of Rehe from February 1933. It subsequently remained in Manchukuo as a garrison force. From 1937, the 8th division was subordinated to the Kwantung Army. On 13 January 1938, the division was assigned to 3rd Army remaining in Suiyang County. In 1939, its 32nd Infantry Regiment was transferred to the newly formed 24th Division, thus converting 8th Division to a triangular format. The division participated in the Kantokuen special training maneuvers in July 1941. On 19 September 1941, the 8th Division was subordinated to the 20th Army to perform a defense duties at Soviet Union border, together with 25th Division. It remained in Manchukuo through most of the early stages of the Pacific War.