Maikaze was a Kagero-class destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Fujinagata Shipyards launched her on 13 March 1941, and the navy commissioned her on 15 July 1941.
Seiji Nakasugi became her captain on the day she was commissioned. He held the command from her entry into service through the early part of the Pacific War.
On 4 June 1942 Maikaze was at the Battle of Midway, serving in the screen. In that station she stood with the ships assigned to guard the heavier units present for the battle.
On 10 January 1943, southeast of New Britain, she depth-charged the submarine Argonaut. Isokaze joined her in shelling the boat until it sank. That loss is not credited to one of them.
Tsutomu Hagio took command on 22 June 1943. He was still her captain when the ship was lost the following February.
On 17 February 1944, during Operation Hailstone at Truk, Maikaze was sunk in a surface action. She went down there with Hagio in command.