Hiyou
Hiyou is a fleet girl in Kantai Collection based on the Imperial Japanese Navy's lead ship of the Hiyou-class aircraft carriers. Categorized as a light aircraft carrier, she was originally laid down as the commercial ocean liner Izumo Maru before undergoing military conversion. Alongside her sister ship Jun'you, she supports fleet operations with exceptional aircraft capacity and economical deployment costs.
Overview
Hiyou is a fleet girl in Kantai Collection based on the Imperial Japanese Navy's lead ship of the Hiyou-class aircraft carriers. Categorized as a light aircraft carrier, she was originally laid down as the commercial ocean liner Izumo Maru before undergoing military conversion. Alongside her sister ship Jun'you, she supports fleet operations with exceptional aircraft capacity and economical deployment costs.
Appearance
Hiyou features glossy long black hair styled in a hime cut and bound with thin white hair ribbons, paired with purple eyes. Reflecting her background as a converted merchant vessel, she possesses a voluptuous figure with a rounded lower body and full bust, which become more pronounced in her upgraded and damaged forms. Her attire comprises a wine-red long-sleeved blouse adorned with a magatama collar ornament under a white kariginu-style jacket, paired with a calf-length red hakama skirt and platform shoes.
Personality
In contrast to her relaxed sister Jun'you, Hiyou possesses a serious and slightly tsundere demeanor. She frequently laments her delicate armor while maintaining strong confidence in her overall combat capabilities. Beneath her stern exterior, she harbors a gentle and sentimental side, occasionally slipping up with her former civilian name upon meeting others and preserving a formal dress in hopes of sailing passenger routes when peace returns. She also thoroughly enjoys Western cuisine, though she remains mindful of her weight.
Abilities
Hiyou boasts exceptional aircraft carrying capacity rivaling fleet carriers, featuring four equipment slots even prior to remodeling. In combat, she operates in an onmyouji-style manner, utilizing a paper scroll instead of a traditional flight deck to launch paper shikigami that transform into aircraft, accompanied by pink flames bearing imperial decree characters. She combines high durability and low operational costs, balanced by a slow sailing speed and lighter armor protection.
Background
Hiyou was originally under construction for Nippon Yusen as the luxury ocean liner Izumo Maru, designed with government subsidies requiring modular military conversion capabilities. Acquired prior to completion and converted into an aircraft carrier, she was sent directly into heavy combat. In the game, she reflects on her unfulfilled civilian legacy while serving as a core carrier asset.
Relationships
Jun'you is Hiyou's younger sister ship, and despite their differing temperaments, they fight side by side as an onmyouji-themed carrier pair. She presents a sharp attitude toward the Admiral while remaining steadfastly loyal. Historical accounts also link her to Nagato, who was slated to tow her during her final engagement prior to total mechanical failure.
Trivia
Her initial attack speech makes reference to taking revenge for the Battle of Midway. Character designer Kuuro Kuro deliberately styled her lower figure with soft, rounded contours to visually represent her history as a converted merchant liner. She dreams of one day sailing the San Francisco ocean route once peaceful maritime travel is restored.
