Akigumo was laid down at Sumitomo Heavy Industries Uraga Shipyard on 7 July 1972 and launched on 23 October 1973.

On the night of 5 October 1979 at Terashima harbor in Nagasaki Prefecture, the bow of JDS Aokumo struck the aft starboard hull of Akigumo.

At that time, Aokumo was undergoing nighttime anchoring training that relied only on the moonlight without using any radar or artificial lighting.

On 31 January 1990, the 23rd Escort Corps was reorganized under the control of the Ōminato District Force.

Akigumo participated in disaster relief activities due to the eruption of Mount Usu that occurred on 31 March 2000.