From mid-November 1942, the division participated in the thrust to the east of Jinan, isolating elements of the Chinese army in the Shandong Peninsula.

In December 1942, members of the 59th Division were involved in the Kantō Incident – a spontaneous mutiny during the transfer to Guantao County.

The drafted Yakuza gang members went searching for alcohol and caused the disintegration of the transport company on 27 December 1942.

The rest of the 59th Division continued to provide security in Shandong Province, with more severe fighting erupting in November 1944.

During that time, a scorched earth policy was extensively used, and numerous atrocities, like using coolies to clear minefields,[1] or mass killing of civilians by the 45th Independent Infantry Battalion[2] were recorded.