Hirato
Hirato is a character in Kantai Collection based on the ninth Etorofu-class coastal defense ship of the Imperial Japanese Navy. She is notable as the very first glasses-wearing shipgirl introduced among all coastal defense ships in the game. Soft-spoken, polite, and deeply conscientious, she dedicatedly acts as an escort vessel whose top priority is safeguarding the Commander from harm during fleet operations.
Overview
Hirato is a character in Kantai Collection based on the ninth Etorofu-class coastal defense ship of the Imperial Japanese Navy. She is notable as the very first glasses-wearing shipgirl introduced among all coastal defense ships in the game. Soft-spoken, polite, and deeply conscientious, she dedicatedly acts as an escort vessel whose top priority is safeguarding the Commander from harm during fleet operations.
Appearance
Hirato has short light-grey hair with blue gradient tips and a small braid hidden behind her front bangs. She wears glasses for nearsightedness over reddish-brown eyes, which appear visually distorted through the lenses. Her standard uniform consists of a white long-sleeved shirt with a blue sailor collar, an aqua fan-shaped ribbon tie, a blue pleated skirt longer than those of her sister ships, white thigh-high socks, and grey loafers. Her equipment includes a smokestack and masts mounted on her back, a 12cm handgun, depth charges strapped to her right thigh—causing her to gently lift her skirt—extra depth charges on her right side, and an ankle anchor with a chain. Heavy damage reveals a white garter belt.
Personality
Hirato possesses a gentle, modest, and refined demeanor, speaking with polite phrasing. She generally refers to herself by her own name and addresses the player as Commander. Driven by an intense sense of duty, she is fiercely determined to shield her allies from danger. Even when taking severe damage in battle, she tries to maintain a reassuring front by putting on a brave smile, hiding the anxiety shown by the cold sweat trickling down her cheek.
Abilities
As an Etorofu-class coastal defense ship, Hirato specializes in anti-submarine warfare. Although her initial anti-submarine capability at level 1 is among the lower end of her class, her potential grows significantly upon reaching higher levels and undergoing modernization, making her one of the class's top anti-submarine combatants. She carries a 12cm single gun mount, anti-aircraft weaponry, and thigh-mounted depth charges to effectively track and destroy underwater targets.
Background
Hirato was added to Kantai Collection during the Winter 2019 event, 'Advance! 2nd Operation "Southern Operation".' Her historical counterpart served extensively as an escort vessel during World War II, notably acting as the flagship for the Hi-72 convoy before being torpedoed and sunk by an enemy submarine in 1944. The devastating losses suffered by her convoy during these escort missions directly shape her in-game desire to protect her commander and fleetmates at all costs.
Relationships
Hirato maintains an unwavering loyalty toward the Commander, expressing a protective vow to shield them from any harm. She also holds deep gratitude and concern for the destroyer Shikinami, who assisted her convoy historically, often inviting her for tea at the base. Furthermore, she shares a friendly relationship with her fellow escort ship Mikura, with whom she converses cheerfully during seasonal events.
Trivia
Her name derives from Hirado Island in Nagasaki Prefecture. She is the second Japanese warship named Hirato, following a Chikuma-class protected cruiser. The name was later inherited by the modern Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's Awaji-class minesweeper. While her historical and in-game name uses the unvoiced reading 'Hirato,' the modern naval vessel uses the voiced pronunciation 'Hirado.' Her official character artwork was designed by Akasaka Yuzu.
