 Hatsuse , named after the Hase @-@ dera temple , which was famous for its maple trees , was ordered as part of the 10 Year Naval Expansion Programme and paid for from the £ 30 @,@ 000 @,@ 000 indemnity paid by China after losing the Sino @-@ Japanese War of 1894 – 1895 . The ship was laid down by Armstrong Whitworth at their Elswick shipyard on 10 January 1898 . She was launched on 27 June 1896 and completed on 18 January 1901 . Before sailing to Japan , she represented the Meiji Emperor at Queen Victoria 's funeral . 
