The was one of Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

's first Western-style warship following the country's period of Seclusion. She was built by the governor of Uraga

Uraga

is a subdivision of the city of Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. It is located on the south eastern side of the Miura Peninsula, at the northern end of the Uraga Channel, at the entrance of Tokyo Bay.-History:...

, Nakajima Saburosuke (Jp:中島三郎助), following the 1846 visit of the American Commodore James Biddle

James Biddle

James Biddle , of the Biddle family, brother of financier Nicholas Biddle and nephew of Captain Nicholas Biddle, was an American commodore. His flagship was USS Columbus.-Education and early career:...

, and the 1853 visit of Commodore Perry.

Her construction started in 1853, and was completed in July 1854.

Her sails had black bands, in the style characteristic of early Tokugawa western-style sailships.