[1] Makinami was authorized under the Medium-term Defense Buildup Plan of 1996, and was built by IHI Marine United shipyards in Yokohama.

Makinami, along with the fleet oiler Towada were assigned to the Indian Ocean in November 2006 to provide assistance in refueling anti-terrorist coalition forces in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

In November 2010, Makinami, along with the destroyer Satogiri, was dispatched to Aden, Yemen to participate in anti-piracy escort operations off the coast of Somalia.

On 13 August 2012 Makinami was dispatched to Aden again, together with the destroyer Yugiri, to resume anti-piracy escort operations off the coast of Somalia.

[8] On 21 May 2022, Makinami, Asahi, and the replenishment oiler, Hamana trailed the PLAN Liaoning carrier strike group going towards Miyako-jima.