Yanagi was one of four Momo-class destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War I.

The Momo-class destroyers were enlarged and faster versions of the preceding Kaba class with a more powerful armament.

[2] The engines produced a total of 16,000 shaft horsepower (12,000 kW) that gave the ships a maximum speed of 31.5 knots (58.3 km/h; 36.2 mph).

[3] They carried enough fuel to give them a range of 2,400 nautical miles (4,400 km; 2,800 mi) at a speed of 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).

[4] Yanagi was launched on 24 February 1917 at the Sasebo Naval Arsenal[1] and completed on 5 May.