It was formed on 10 July 1940 in Hirosaki, Aomori, simultaneously with the 51st, 52nd, 54th, 55th, and 56th divisions, as a reserve and provisional unit.

The 57th division was initially assigned to the direct command of Emperor Hirohito but was transferred to the Northern District Army as soon as it was formed on 2 December 1940.

The preparations for war with the Soviet Union were officially cancelled on 9 August 1941, and the 57th division was reassigned to the 4th army.

[2] Due to bad developments in the Battle of Okinawa, on 10 May 1945 the further movement of the 57th division was cancelled and it was re-subordinated to the 16th Area Army[3] to counter the anticipated Operation Downfall by the US forces.

The division had met the day of surrender of Japan on 15 August 1945 at Fukuoka without seeing any combat.