dˈuː tə lˈæk ʌv ɛkspˈiəɹɪəns baɪ ðə bˈɪldɚz, tsuːʃˈiːmə tˈʊk ɐn ɛkstɹˈoːɹdɪnˌɛɹi lˈɔŋ tˈaɪm tə kəmpˈiːt, dᵻspˈaɪt hɜː smˈɔːl sˈaɪz ænd ɹˈɛlətˌɪvli sˈɪmpəl dɪzˈaɪn, wɪððə kˈiːl lˈeɪd dˌaʊn ˌɔn wˈʌn ɑːktˈoʊbɚ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd wˈʌn ænd lˈɑːntʃɪŋ ˌɔn fˈɪftiːn dᵻsˈɛmbɚ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd tˈuː.
Due to lack of experience by the builders, Tsushima took an extraordinary long time to compete, despite her small size and relatively simple design, with the keel laid down on 1 October 1901 and launching on 15 December 1902.