Designed for ease of production, the Matsu class was smaller, slower and more lightly armed than previous destroyers as the IJN intended them for second-line duties like escorting convoys, releasing the larger ships for missions with the fleet.

The accuracy of the Type 89 guns was severely reduced against aircraft because no high-angle gunnery director was fitted.

The ships carried a total of twenty-five 25-millimeter (1 in) Type 96 anti-aircraft guns in 4 triple and 13 single mounts.

The ship was turned over to Allied forces at Yokosuka at the time of the surrender of Japan on 2 September and was stricken from the navy list on 5 October.

Keyaki was turned over to the United States on 5 July of the latter year and was subsequently sunk as a target.