She was the only specifically designed repair ship operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy.

In 1937 the Imperial Japanese Navy had converted the old battleship Asahi to serve as a repair ship.

After the conversion of Asahi, a decision was made to build a dedicated repair ship with better capabilities for that task.

In February 1944 the Americans made a raid on Truk (Operation Hailstone), sinking and damaging many ships.

[1] On 30 March 1944, while anchored off Urukthapel in the Palau Islands, Akashi was hit numerous times by bombs and rockets from American aircraft from Task Group 58, during Operation Desecrate One.