Short answers, pulled from the story.
Lieutenant-General Renya Mutaguchi took command of the Fifteenth Army in Burma in March 1943. He initiated Operation U-Go to invade India despite reservations from his superiors and staff members.
Japanese troops began crossing the Chindwin River on the 8th of March 1944. This marked the start of the offensive that would lead to the siege of Imphal and Kohima.
The Japanese defeat resulted in fifty-four thousand eight hundred seventy-nine casualties including thirteen thousand three hundred seventy-six dead. Most losses occurred due to starvation disease and exhaustion during the retreat rather than direct combat.
South East Asia Command possessed seventy-six transport aircraft mainly C-47 Skytrain when the battle started. Admiral Louis Mountbatten later acquired twenty additional C-46 Commando aircraft to support operations.
Lieutenant General William Slim commanded the Fourteenth Army which included the 20th Indian Infantry Division held Tamu and the 17th Indian Infantry Division occupying Tiddim. The 23rd Indian Infantry Division served as reserve forces within and around Imphal itself.