| 21st Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | 4 April 1938 – August 1945 |
| Country | Empire of Japan |
| Branch | Imperial Japanese Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Garrison/HQ | Kanazawa, Japan Hanoi, French Indochina |
| Nickname(s) | Attack Division |
| Engagements | Second Sino-Japanese War World War II |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Hisakazu Tanaka |
The 21st Division (第21師団, Dai-nijūichi Shidan) was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its tsūshōgō code name was the Attack Division (討兵団, Tou Heidan). The 21st Division was created on 4 April 1938 as a triangular division as part of the military buildup following the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War, along with the resurrected 17th and 18th Divisions, and the new 22nd and 23rd Divisions. Its original headquarters was in a suburb of the city of Kanazawa, and its troops were recruited primarily from communities in Ishikawa and Toyama Prefectures.