Construction of the new Kawakaze-class destroyers was authorized as part of the Imperial Japanese Navy's 8-4 Fleet Program in fiscal 1915.

A large destroyer with long range, capable of providing escort to the new battleship Nagato and the two Tenryū-class cruisers were considered a part of this reduced spending naval program from the previous Eight-eight fleet project..

In addition, given the experience with deployment of Japanese destroyers for extended periods overseas in World War I, the hull and bow needed to be reinforced to handle heavy seas.

Furthermore, the navy wanted to add the latest technologies in terms of the new 533 mm torpedoes in three double launchers.

It was furthermore decided to use the same Brown-Curtis heavy fuel oil fired geared steam turbine engines as on the Tenryū-class cruisers.