Japanese cabinet ordered building of super battleships at Vickers, England according to the Dutch newspaper Soerabaijasch handelsblad dated 1 February 1904

An item reported that the British firm Vickers Maxim Armstrong&Co. received an order of the Japanese cabinet to start immediately with the building and outfitting of two battleships to be livered as soon as possible. Measurement was to be 16.400 tons, the speed 19 miles and the armament heavier then the strongest British battleships.