[1] From DD-129 onward, steel replaced aluminium for key elements of the superstructure including the bridge to improve resistance and durability.

However, due to this design change, ballast had to be installed, the classes displacement increased and the maneuvering performance deteriorated.

[1] This is the first destroyer class in the JMSDF equipped with the Sea Sparrow Improved basic point defense missile system.

And in the JMSDF, OTO Melara 76 mm compact gun and Boeing Harpoon surface-to-surface missile are adopted from the ship of FY1977 including this class.

Although it has a small aviation deck, through a beartrap system, the class can operate the Mitsubishi HSS-2B anti-submarine helicopter safely in a wider range of weather conditions.

[citation needed] Media related to Hatsuyuki class destroyers at Wikimedia Commons