On 6 April 1945, "Asashimo" escorted the battleship from the Inland Sea on Operation Ten-Go towards Okinawa. She was sunk on 7 April by aircraft of Task Force 58, from the aircraft carrier after falling astern of the "Yamato" task force due to engine trouble, southwest of Nagasaki. All of her 326 crew members - as well as Commander Destroyer Division 21 (Captain Hisao Kotaki) - lost their lives. The others, including the destroyer , were sunk during the same attack, also by aircraft of "San Jacinto", but several destroyers, such as survived with heavy damage. "Asashimo" was sunk at ().