Hagiwara Shoichi

Hagiwara Shoichi (萩原 正一; 5 March 1898 – 8 January 1976) was the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 22 June 1950 to 22 August 1962, and was also the first Deputy Prime Minister of Yamatai. Hagiwara served under Okabe Nariakira and was instrumental in restoring Yamatai's international relations in western Escar after the Second Escar-Varunan War, particularly rapprochement with Chisei. He is celebrated to this day for his great diplomatic efforts during the mid-20th century.

Born to a rich military-industrial family, Hagiwara was conscripted into the Imperial Army during the First Escar-Varunan War. Due to his family's high standing, he was accepted into Kuromorimine Military Academy and was commissioned as an officer in the Imperial Army. After the war, he became a career officer and rose through the ranks, eventually commanding the 9th Army during the Second Escar-Varunan War. After the war, Hagiwara was able to survive the power struggles and purges that shook the Yamataian military government, aligning himself with Shimoda Norio's followers and keeping a low profile.

Holding strong beliefs in building a lasting peace in Escar, he assisted his predecessor Admiral Sonoda Manami with her diplomatic missions, including the Treaty of Eito. When Okabe Nariakira took power in 1949, he selected Hagiwara to replace Admiral Sonoda Manami as Minister of Foreign Affairs. Hagiwara subsequently participated in numerous international conferences, helping to orchestrate Yamatai's addition in the Three Powers Alliance and devising policies regarding disputes with Chanha, Chisei, Yeongseon, and the collectivist bloc.

Hagiwara stepped down as Minister of Foreign Affairs on 22 August 1962, when the Okabe cabinet was dissolved in the wake of Okabe's assassination and the election of Okudera Gunzo as the first purely civilian Prime Minister of Yamatai. After this, Hagiwara also retired from the military as one of the last members of the military government that Okabe had dismantled. He wrote seven books on international relations and global politics before his death in 1976.