The hull design was completely renovated from first-generation destroyers. In addition to increasing the size in order to reduce the underwater radiation noise, both the superstructure and hull were inclined to reduce the radar cross-section. There is however no angled tripod mainmast like the one of the American because of the heavy weather of the Sea of Japan in winter. The aft was designed like a "mini-Oranda-zaka" as with the to avoid interference between helicopters and mooring devices. Destroyers built under the First Defense Build-up Plan, including the former, adopted a unique long forecastle style called "Oranda-zaka".
The engine arrangement is COGAG as same as, but a pair of engines are updated to Spey SM1C. The remaining one pair were replaced with LM2500 versions, same as in the Kongō class.
Akebono was laid down on 29 October 1999 at IHI Corporation Tokyo as the 1997 plan and launched on 25 September 2000. The vessel was commissioned on 19 March 2002, and was incorporated into the 4th Escort Corps and deployed to Kure.
In June 2019, Akebono was dispatched to additionally participate in the 2019 Indo-Pacific dispatch training in which the vessels and were participating. The destroyer conducted joint training with the navies of each country in the Indo-Pacific region during the deployment.[2]
On 7 April 2024, Akebono conducted a joint patrol in the South China Sea with BRP Antonio Luna and BRP Valentin Diaz of the Philippine Navy, USS Mobile of the US Navy, and HMAS Warramunga of the Royal Australian Navy. This marked the first multinational patrol among the nations.[3]