JS Kurama (DDH-144) was the second ship of the Shirane-class destroyer in service with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).

Based on the track record of this ship, CIWS and tactical towed sonar were adopted as general-purpose escort vessels of the Maritime Self-Defense Force built after that, in which became standard equipment.

From July 26 to 30, 1996, she visited Vladivostok, Russia, for the first time as a self-defense ship to participate in the 300th anniversary ceremony of the Russian Navy.

In addition, the first Japan-Russia joint training was held in the Sea of Japan east of Vladivostok on July 29 and 30, and participated in it.

After returning to Japan, remodeling work was carried out at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works, and the shooting command device for short SAM control changed from WM-25 to the domestically produced Type 81 shooting command device type 2-12 (FCS-2-12).

From November 10 to 12, 2004, she dealt with the Han-class submarine in Japan's territorial sea with the escort ship JDS Yudachi.

On January 14, 2005, an integrated unit of land, sea, and air self-defense forces was formed based on the Japan Disaster Relief Team Dispatch Law to rescue the Sumatra Island Earthquake, and departed from Sasebo.

On 27 October 2009, JS Kurama collided with a South Korean container ship under the Kanmonkyo Bridge in the Kanmon Straits off the coast of Japan.

Floating debris such as the inner fireboat and the outer shell of the turret have been recovered by the test ship JS Asuka in the sea area.