Maizuru Naval District
Following the Siemens-Vickers scandals, Yashiro replaced Saitō Makoto as Navy Minister in the cabinet of Prime Minister Ōkuma Shigenobu. Yashiro was a surprising choice, as he was far down on the seniority list, but the Maizuru Naval District was completely free from any taint of the Siemens Scandal. World War I began almost immediately after he assumed office. The opportunities for Japan to use the Anglo-Japanese Alliance as an excuse to enter the war and to expel Germany from Asia, seizing its possessions in the Shantung Peninsula and in the islands of the South Pacific were clear, but Yashiro was at best ambivalent, knowing how these actions would create a larger conflict with the United States. Although appointed due to his commendable military and apolitical record, Yashiro's bluntness over issues with the Navy's budget led to his forced resignation in April 1915. In December, he was sent back as commander of the IJN 2nd Fleet. Yashiro was ennobled with the title of "danshaku" (baron) under the "kazoku" peerage system in July 1916. From December 1917, he was commander of the Sasebo Naval District.