The Oryoshi is named after a medieval Japanese position, the Envoy To Subdue the Territory. It was built after the Otsu incident, when a humiliated Japanese Empire was beset by internal strife and civil disturbances while being surrounded by external threats from Russia, a resurgent China, an unforgiving Korea, and a rebellious Formosa. The design had to be limited in size and capa-bility so as not to arouse suspicion and further repercussions from Russia, yet still needed to be capable of quelling internal insurrection and presenting a credible deterrent against invasion.