[5] The tank was armed with a short-barrel 57 mm cannon for knocking out pillboxes and masonry fortifications, and proved effective in campaigns in Manchuria and China, as the Chinese National Revolutionary Army had only three tank battalions to oppose them, which consisted primarily of Vickers export models, German Panzer Is, and Italian CV33 tankettes.

[8][9] The Type 89 evolved from Japan's first domestic tank project initiated by the Imperial Japanese Army’s Osaka Technical Arsenal in 1925.

As the army's Sagami Arsenal lacked the capacity for mass production, a contract was awarded to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which built a new tank factory to specifically produce this model.

[15] Although the Type 89 was well regarded by the army, there were several small problems to be rectified, notably a gap under the mantlet on early models that allowed rifle fire to enter the turret.

During the later stages of World War II, HEAT shells were developed to provide greater penetration of enemy armor.

[18] The following year, the Japanese Army formed its first independent armor force by creating three regiments armed with the Type 89,[5] each consisting of two companies with ten tanks each.

[26] In this battle, the Type 97 medium tank was a newly fielded machine, and was primarily reserved for home units, as well as transitioning into Japanese Army forces stationed in China (Manchuria).

However, by 2100 hours, Soviet counter battery fire had begun pounding the newly taken position, and the 3rd Tank re-positioned themselves behind the objective.

[30] Now isolated, and deep within the Soviet lines, the 4th Tank Regiment moved several thousands yards[31] where they met up with Japanese infantry.

They were also often used in static defense positions in the Japanese-occupied islands of the Netherlands East Indies and in the South Seas Mandate, but with their weak armor and low muzzle velocity main gun they were a poor match for the American M4 Sherman.

[7] Some Type 89 tanks were used by elements of Royal Netherlands East Indies Army, such as the 1e Bataljon, 3e Regiment Infanterie (1-3 RI "De Watermannen") which used the tanks as tractors and the 1e Bataljon, 9e Regiment Infanterie (1-9 RI "Friesland") during the early period of the Indonesian National Revolution.