 The Division advanced into Yunnan in pursuit of the Chinese but were halted at the Battle of Salween River by the Chinese 36th and 88th Divisions on 31 May 1942.Following this success in combat, Watanabe was recalled to Japan, and from 1942 to 1944, was Commandant of the Army School of Science.However, with the war situation rapidly deteriorating against Japan, he was sent to the field again in March 1944 as the first commander in chief of the newly formed IJA 32nd Army, tasked with the defense of the Ryukyu Islands.