Hagi was one of 23 escort destroyers of the Tachibana sub-class of the Matsu class built for the Imperial Japanese Navy during the final stages of World War II.

The accuracy of the Type 89 guns was severely reduced against aircraft because no high-angle gunnery director was fitted.

[1][4] Hagi (Bush Clover)[5] was ordered in Fiscal Year 1943 under the Modified 5th Naval Armaments Supplement Program as part of the Matsu class, but the design was simplified to facilitate production and the ship was one of those built to the modified design.

She became part of Destroyer Division 52 on 25 April together with Sugi, Kashi, Kaede, Nire and Nashi which was assigned to Escort Squadron 31 of the Combined Fleet.

The ship was turned over to Allied forces at Kure at the time of the surrender of Japan on 2 September and was stricken from the navy list on 5 October.