| 88th Division | |
|---|---|
| 第88師団 | |
| Active | 1945 - 1945 |
| Country | Empire of Japan |
| Branch | Imperial Japanese Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | 20,000 |
| Garrison/HQ | Toyohara |
| Nickname(s) | Essential Division - Kaname Division |
| Engagements | Soviet invasion of Manchuria Invasion of South Sakhalin |
The 88th Division (第88師団, Dai-hachijūhachi Shidan) was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the Essential Division (要兵団, Kaname Heidan). It was created 28 February 1945 in Toyohara (later known as Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.) It was a triangular division. The divisional backbone was the Karafuto mixed brigade.