She was originally built in New York as , a  screw steam revenue cutter built for the United States Revenue Marine during the American Civil War. She was later purchased by as a private warship by Akita Domain, one of the feudal domains of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, and named Takao Maru.
She was initially constructed in New York as a screw steam revenue cutter built for the United States Revenue Marine during the American Civil War. She was later acquired by Akita Domain, one of the feudal domains of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, and renamed Takao Maru.