Hatsushimo was a Hatsuharu-class destroyer. The name is first frost. Uraga Dock laid her down on 31 January 1933, launched her on 4 November 1933, and commissioned her on 27 September 1934. This is not the older destroyer of the same name that had been rated a minesweeper.
She was in Destroyer Division 21. On the night of 28 February-1 March 1942, in Bali Strait, the division met Alden, Paul Jones, John D. Edwards, and John D. Ford. None of the four was hit. Satoru Kohama had her then. He was relieved on 27 November 1942.
On 7 April 1945 she was in the screen of Yamato on the run toward Okinawa. Aircraft sank Yamato and other ships of that force. Hatsushimo was not sunk that day. The losses are not credited to one plane.
Lieutenant Commander Masazo Sakawa had her from 24 August 1944. On 30 July 1945 a mine sank her in Miyazu Bay, about twelve miles west-northwest of Maizuru, while she was maneuvering under air attack. Seventeen men were killed. Sakawa survived. She was the last Japanese destroyer sunk in the war. The loss is not credited to one plane. She was struck on 30 September 1945.