In 1944, under Japanese operation U-GO, Lieutenant General Renya Mutaguchi ordered the 31st Division across the border of Burma into British India as part of the overall Battle of Imphal.

Starting on March 15, 1944, the 31st Division crossed the Chindwin River near Homalin and moved northwest along jungle trails on a front almost 100 kilometers wide.

The left wing of the division, the 58th Regiment, commanded by Major General Shigesaburō Miyazaki clashed with Indian troops of the Indian 50th Parachute Brigade under Brigadier Hope-Thompson in the Battle of Sangshak, on the northern approaches to Imphal on March 20, 1944.

However, on the morning of April 18 British artillery opened up against the Japanese positions, which stopped the attacks.

After ignoring orders for several weeks, Sato was removed from command of the 31st Division early in July 1944 and replaced by Uchitarou Kawada.