The submarine, named Kukoryu (Black Dragon) it is said to be state-of-the art and was built at a cost of 53.4 billion yen (US$540M) by Kawasaki Heavy Industries.

Adorned with several rising sun flags in both the regular national design and controversial war flag still used by the JMSDF, the Kukoryu sat on the slipway waiting to be launched.



Then workers knocked out several blocks holding it in place and the 84-meter-long submarine surprisingly quickly yet smoothly slid backwards into the ocean. The JMSDF’s sixth submarine will remain docked in that area while the finishing touches are done on its interior.





The name Kokuryu belongs to a mythical dragon that is said to protect the North in Japanese mythology as well as Chinese where its known as heilong. When all the work is completed, the submarine will be dispatched to either Yokosuka Base in Kanagawa Prefecture or Kure Base in Hiroshima Prefecture in March of next year.

It is, the use is of that flag still a controversy even today
It's considered offensive in South Korea and China, where it is considered to be associated with Japanese militarism and imperialism.