Akagi was laid down by builder Onohama of Kobe in June 1886, launched in August 1888, and completed in July 1890. Akagi was one of four vessels of the Maya class of gunboats. After serving in the Japanese fleet, Akagi was sold in 1912.
Armament was one 8.2-inch gun and one 4.7-inch gun. Akagi carried 60 tons of coal, had a maximum speed of around 12 knots and displaced 612 tons normal. The vessel was 135 feet from perpendicular to perpendicular in length, with a beam of 22 feet and draught of 8 feet 6 inches.
See also: Sino-Japanese War, Russo-Japanese War