The vessel was laid down in 1958 and served as a front line warship with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force until 1987, and as an auxiliary until 1993.

Teruzuki was one of two Akizuki-class destroyers ordered in 1957 by the United States for Japan as part of a military aid package.

[1] Akizuki was laid down by Mitsubishi at Kobe in Japan on 31 July 1958, launched on 26 June 1959 and commissioned with the pennant number DD-161 on 13 February 1960.

[1] 1957 budget plan ship on the United States side by procurement outside the United States (OSP, procurement of the recipient country) based on the mutual defense assistance agreement between Japan and the United States It was launched on 24 June 1959, and after being put into service as the US Navy-registered ship (DD-960) on 29 February 1960, it was provided to the Maritime Self-Defense Force and incorporated into the Yokosuka District Force.

[citation needed] In 1989, the 3rd turret of the 5-inch gun was removed, and a towed sonar (TASS) was mounted on the rear deck.