Jingei
Jingei is a character in Kantai Collection based on the lead ship of the Imperial Japanese Navy's Jingei-class submarine tenders. Functioning as a submarine tender in the game, she supports submarine fleet operations while possessing notable firepower for her ship type. Characterized by her polite and domestic nature, she is widely recognized for her extraordinarily deep and intense devotion toward the Admiral.
Overview
Jingei is a character in Kantai Collection based on the lead ship of the Imperial Japanese Navy's Jingei-class submarine tenders. Functioning as a submarine tender in the game, she supports submarine fleet operations while possessing notable firepower for her ship type. Characterized by her polite and domestic nature, she is widely recognized for her extraordinarily deep and intense devotion toward the Admiral.
Appearance
Jingei has long black hair styled in a low braided ponytail with hair flipping outward on both sides, decorated with a whale-shaped ornament on the left side of her head. She has deep vermilion eyes and a petite stature paired with a voluptuous figure. Her attire blends a sailor uniform with traditional Japanese teahouse wear, featuring a short yukata-style top with a white scarf, a brown hanten shawl, a blue side-slit skirt, a white waist apron, headgear, and white thigh-high socks. Her rigging includes a tea canister and twin guns on her right, a crate of potatoes on her left, anti-aircraft guns, and small boats on her deck. She holds a bento package in her left hand and carries a flight-deck-styled tote bag filled with supply torpedoes over her right shoulder. She also possesses numerous seasonal graphics, including yukata, Christmas Santa suits, Setsubun outfit, Valentine's cooking clothes, spring loungewear, swimsuits, and Halloween costumes.
Personality
Jingei maintains a gentle and refined tone, addressing others with politeness. However, her romantic affection for the Admiral is overwhelmingly strong and intensely persistent. She exhibits overt jealousy whenever the Admiral visits other shipgirls and regularly seeks reassurance of his feelings. Deeply domestic, she delights in preparing traditional Japanese meals with barley rice, miso soup, and pickles, while eagerly assisting with late-night paperwork. However, whenever her cooking receives praise, she tends to obsession by serving that exact same dish repeatedly.
Abilities
Jingei remains a specialized submarine tender even after remodeling, without converting into an aircraft carrier. Her default attack range is Medium, enabling her to equip both small and medium main guns, giving her higher firepower than Taigei. Upon reaching Level 45 and undergoing remodeling, her equipment expands to three slots, allowing her to operate seaplane bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. This enables her to achieve air supremacy and perform artillery spotting independently in operations lacking enemy air opposition. However, due to her smaller hull dimensions, her overall durability, armor, and evasion stats are lower than Taigei's.
Background
Constructed under Japan's Eight-Eight Fleet Plan using repurposed boilers and materials from cancelled warships, Jingei historically served as a lead submarine tender. In Kantai Collection, she was introduced alongside the Submarine Fleet System during the Summer 2020 event as an event drop reward, and was later added to the standard drop pool in map 6-1. Within the game's lore, she works as a dedicated fleet tender supporting and resupplying submarine units.
Relationships
Jingei gradually established warm, protective bonds with various submarine shipgirls such as I-47 and Ro-500 after her arrival. She is the lead ship of her class, with Chougei as her younger sister. She shares an established historical connection with Yura from their service in the 1st Submarine Division, maintaining a close yet subtly competitive rapport. Additionally, she holds a respectful friendship with the supply ship Mamiya, whom Jingei historically towed back to port after a torpedo attack, leading Mamiya to regularly share food ingredients with her.
Trivia
Designed by illustrator Akasaka Yuzu, Jingei incorporates whale-themed accessories to match her name, which translates to 'swift whale.' Historically, the architectural design of the Jingei-class was used as a blueprint reference for the subsequent Katori-class training cruisers. In October 2022, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force launched a Taigei-class submarine officially named Jingei. In official media adaptations, her habit of endlessly serving the same meal after receiving compliments serves as a recurring comical running gag.
