Kantai Collection (KanColle), the web game centered on personified WWII warships (mostly from the Imperial Japanese Navy) known as "ship girls," continues to maintain a dedicated fanbase and a popular multimedia franchise.
Late last year, the game announced the addition of its first-ever ship from Thailand: the coastal defense vessel Thonburi (เรือหลวงธนบุรี). The news not only surprised players but also sparked a massive wave of discussion online. Amid the excitement, a lengthy, heartfelt post by a Thai Admiral (the in-game title for players) went viral, earning praise for its "off-the-charts passion."
The Thai Admiral took to X to express how moved he was to see a ship from his home country officially join the KanColle roster. He explained that the moment he saw Thonburi's character design, he was overcome with emotion and felt compelled to write down his interpretation and love for the new ship girl to "accurately convey his overflowing passion."
In his now-famous post, he described Thonburi as "more than just cute." At first glance, she appears to be a reserved and graceful "Yamato Nadeshiko (Thai version)." But beneath that soft exterior, he sensed a "cleverly hidden desire." He noted that while she wears a modest uniform, a "spicy and intense passion, like authentic Thai spices," lies dormant within. She doesn't rely on revealing outfits for allure; instead, her "gaze" and "subtle gestures" seem to say, "I'm not your average girl." He praised this design choice as "inexplicably alluring without doing anything," calling it the "true charm of Thai women." The post, brimming with love for the character and national pride, had many players admitting they were "dangerously close to falling for her."
The "Yamato Nadeshiko (Thai version)" design concept is historically fitting. The real-life coastal defense ship HTMS Thonburi was a new vessel purchased by the Royal Thai Navy from Japan.
The Thai Admiral's passionate post was met with an overwhelmingly positive response. Fellow players flooded the replies with congratulations, with comments like, "Congrats on your home country's ship getting added!" and "This is the kind of emotional, long-form post that provides real nourishment." Another user added, "You can feel the love just from the text." Some even joked that they would have happily read an even longer post.
As Kantai Collection continues to expand its worldview and the nationalities of its ships, Thonburi's debut has not only introduced players to a piece of Thai naval history but has also sparked a powerful cross-cultural connection. For many fans, this is more than just a new character—it's a symbolic moment that could bring even more international players into the KanColle community.
via： togetter