The Kantai Collection ( KanColle ) franchise and fan community have been embroiled in controversy after a letter of protest addressed to the game's developers began circulating on social media around November 9. The controversy revolves around the Japanese warship Kikuzuki , which exists as a personified character in KanColle, and appears to have escalated to death threats and arson attempts by players of the game .
The issue centers on the character Kikuzuki, based on the
Japanese destroyer Kikuzuki used by the Imperial Japanese Navy since the
1920s. The Kikuzuki Destroyer Association, made up of former crew
members, their families and volunteers, claims ownership Kikuzuki legal since
November 2017. In a protest letter sent in March of this year and
recently deleted after receiving attention on social media, the
association claims to have been continuously harassed by Kantai Collection
players since March 2021 .
The accusations include arson threats, attempted arson, placing suspicious objects at the addresses of association members, as well as online defamation and death threats. Despite police intervention, the criminal acts show no signs of stopping, preventing the association from resuming its activities.
According to the Kikuzuki Destroyer Association's explanation, the controversy began in March 2021 when the organization questioned the official KanColle Twitter account in response to a limited-time mission in the game. The association expressed concern over the depiction of Kikuzuki as consumable material in a mission, given that Kantai Collection is presented as a game commemorating souls lost in war.
Meanwhile, the Kantai Collection management has remained
silent on the matter, as criticized by the Association in its letter of
protest. Despite growing attention on social media, some users
maintain that the Kikuzuki Destroyer Association's ownership claim is vague and
suspicious. However, alleged threats and crimes committed by Kantai
Collection users have generated public disdain, regardless of the
circumstances.
Finally, the Kikuzuki Destroyer Association
clarified in a statement through its official Twitter account that the protest
letter mentioned above was drafted and sent to C2Praparat by an individual from
the association without the knowledge or approval of other members . Recognizing
the lack of credibility in the details of the letter and calling it an
inappropriate response to the situation, they have made the decision to delete
it. The association apologizes to both the public and C2Praparat for
any inconvenience caused. This statement seeks to clarify and rectify
the situation to restore transparency regarding recent events.
Source: Automaton Media
