Irako
Irako is a non-combat support character in Kantai Collection, based on the historical Imperial Japanese Navy food supply ship of the same name. She functions as a consumable item in the game that boosts the morale and battle readiness of shipgirls. Working alongside her senior counterpart Mamiya, she serves as a comforting presence at the naval base's sweet shop, offering freshly made treats to restore the fleet's stamina.
Overview
Irako is a non-combat support character in Kantai Collection, based on the historical Imperial Japanese Navy food supply ship of the same name. She functions as a consumable item in the game that boosts the morale and battle readiness of shipgirls. Working alongside her senior counterpart Mamiya, she serves as a comforting presence at the naval base's sweet shop, offering freshly made treats to restore the fleet's stamina.
Appearance
She has long green hair bound in a ponytail by a red ribbon, alongside light green eyes. Her standard attire consists of a pink long-sleeved collared shirt with a dark necktie, a blue skirt, a white kappougi apron, white socks, and grey footwear shaped like rudders. Her back-mounted rigging features a distinctive tall funnel designed to divert smoke, along with a foremast, bridge, crane, and a 12 cm twin gun mount. Despite her traditional apron, she has a notably full bust. She is often seen holding traditional monaka wafers, and also possesses seasonal outfits including a Christmas Santa costume and a swimsuit.
Personality
Irako is polite, diligent, and warm-hearted. She takes great pride in crafting sweets to refresh tired shipgirls and always greets members of the fleet with hospitable enthusiasm. Respectful toward her senior Mamiya, she approaches her supporting duties with utmost sincerity and care.
Abilities
As a supportive item, Irako can be activated to instantly elevate the morale of several ships within a fleet into a sparkling state, showing heightened effectiveness on shipgirls who have a affinity for sweets. When her item is combined with Mamiya's provision service, the morale boost applies to the entire active fleet simultaneously.
Background
Historically constructed under the 3rd Naval Armaments Supplement Act to assist and supplement the aging Mamiya, Irako was equipped with modern refrigeration systems, laundry machinery, and higher speed capability to accompany the main fleet. In the game, she was introduced in a September 2014 update as a dedicated morale-boosting item card, later receiving full voice acting in a subsequent patch.
Relationships
She shares a close professional and sisterly bond with Mamiya, who acts as her senior mentor in supply duties. Together, they manage the naval base's catering services and work as a combined pair to maximize fleet morale.
Trivia
Although the geographical location that inspired her name is officially pronounced 'Irago', her ship name and character designation use the traditional reading 'Irako'. The unusually tall funnel on her back rigging directly references the historical vessel's specialized design to prevent coal smoke from ruining stored food provisions.
