Kusunoki (楠, "Camphor") was one of 23 escort destroyers of the Tachibana sub-class of the Matsu class built for the Imperial Japanese Navy during the final stages of World War II.

The Tachibana sub-class was a simplified version of the preceding Matsu class to make them even more suited for mass production.

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

[6] Kusunoki was assigned that day to Destroyer Squadron 11 under the Combined Fleet for working up and was transferred to the Maizuru Naval District on 15 July.

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