Kiso

Overview

Kiso is a character from Kantai Collection, appearing as the fifth light cruiser of the Kuma class. Through training and modernization, she can be converted into the formidable Heavy Torpedo Cruiser "Kiso Kai Ni." Characterized by her use of the masculine personal pronoun "ore," she possesses a proud, martial demeanor and supreme confidence on the battlefield. Despite her fierce presence, she demonstrates thoughtful care toward the commander and her fellow shipgirls. Her dashing appearance and gallant attitude make her a standout figure among her fleetmates.

Appearance

Kiso features short greenish hair, blue eyes, and an eyepatch over one eye. Her primary outfit consists of a cropped white sailor shirt with light blue collar stripes that exposes her midriff, paired with a red neckerchief, a white skirt, and a slanted white hat. She wears grey rudder-like footwear. Her rigging features funnels and a bridge structure on her back, a gun mount on her left, and torpedo tubes suspended from a brown waist belt. Upon her second upgrade, she gains a black cape and a military saber, giving her a pirate-themed appearance.

Personality

Exuding supreme confidence and a martial spirit, Kiso uses the masculine personal pronoun "ore" and frequently taunts enemy commanders for their lack of tactical skill. Despite her aggressive battlefield presence, she maintains a composed, mature demeanor off the front lines. She shows genuine consideration for the commander's well-being and acts as a dependable, protective figure toward newer or isolated comrades. While outwardly tough, she occasionally reveals a softer, surprisingly feminine side when left idle. Additionally, she prefers harsh tastes over sweet foods, enjoying Japanese sake during nighttime off-duty hours.

Abilities

Initially serving as a general-purpose light cruiser capable of anti-submarine warfare and seaplane reconnaissance, Kiso undergoes a major conversion into a Heavy Torpedo Cruiser upon reaching level 65. In this upgraded state, her torpedo strike capabilities increase exponentially. Compared to other ships of the same class, her raw torpedo stat is slightly lower, but she compensates with superior anti-aircraft defenses, higher evasion rates, and lower ammunition consumption. This conversion completely removes her aircraft carrying capacity, disabling her ability to equip or launch reconnaissance seaplanes.

Background

Kiso was constructed as the fifth vessel of the Kuma-class light cruisers. Historically, she was the only member of her class never fitted with a seaplane, and a planned conversion into a torpedo cruiser was cancelled before realization. Kantai Collection fulfills this unachieved potential through her "Kai Ni" alternative-history upgrade. In naval history, after being grounded during air raids at Manila Bay in late 1944, she continued serving as a floating battery until after the war, surviving until her scrapping in 1956 and earning a reputation as one of the longest-surviving light cruisers of the Imperial Japanese Navy.

Relationships

Kiso is the youngest of the Kuma-class light cruisers, counting Kuma, Tama, Kitakami, and Ooi as her older sisters. Due to Kuma and Tama using distinctive animal verbal tics, Kiso is often teased by the commander regarding her own speech habits. She is frequently compared to Tenryu, another light cruiser who sports an eyepatch and uses masculine personal pronouns. Additionally, she acts as a caring and supportive mentor figure toward the inexperienced army submarine Maruyu, helping her adapt to naval life.

Trivia

Kiso was illustrated by UGUME, whose previous artistic work on Minamitsu Murasa from the Touhou Project generated fan discussions regarding visual similarities between the characters. Her dashing Kai Ni design and masculine charm earned her a popular fandom moniker describing her as a "handsome guy." Although she has been part of Kantai Collection since its launch, she did not receive her first seasonal artwork update until almost nine years and seven months after the game's release, during an autumn saury festival event.