Its call sign was the Skyquake Division (震天兵団, Shinten Heidan).

It was formed 12 April 1945 in Shanghai as a class C(hei) security division.

The 161st division was performing a coastal defense duties at Shanghai up to the start Soviet invasion of Manchuria 9 August 1945.

The divisional artillery consisted of 12 pieces, namely 75 mm field guns and Type 91 10 cm howitzers.

The troops were sent to Japan through Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Nagato and Sasebo, Nagasaki ports, finishing dissolution 6 September 1946.