Kensuke Tanaka Interview: Comptiq Magazine Septmember 2016

Introduction

The following interview comes from within the "Comptiq Magazine September Edition" which was released on August 9th, 2016. Within the book, Chief Editor "T" has an interview with Kancolle's main producer, Kensuke Tanaka. Within the article, Takana discusses about details regarding Kantai Collection's upcoming Summer 2016 Event, some of the content that's expected to come out which include an Abyssal in swimsuits, the British Royal Naval Battleship, hints regarding a Singapore Fortress coming to life, The 3rd KanColle Naval Review, and the upcoming release of the Kantai Collection Stamp set which will go on sale on the 12th of August. The Interview was conducted on Late July of 2016.

Administrative Naval Base Visit

Interview page from Comptiq September 2016's edition

T子(以下T)：ちいす！コンプティークです。いやー，暑いっすね。今年も夏到来ですね。どっこいしょっと。
T-ko (Hereafter; T): Yo! This is Comptiq. Man, it sure is hot. Summer's here again this year ya know.

タナカコ(以下タ)：いやーホントに暑いね。セミも全開で陽いているし。今年も夏がたんだね，なんか早い気がするね。
Tanaka-ko (Hereafter; Ta): It really is hot. The cicadas are out in broad daylight too. This year summer felt like it snuck up really fast.

T：いやー暑さ，ハンパいっす。あ，アイスコーヒーとか欲しいっす。
T: Man, the heat is getting to me. I'd like an iced coffee.

タ：ごめん，ないわ。麦茶ならありますよ。
Ta: Sorry, we don't have it. We do have barley tea.

T：じゃ，麦茶でいいっす・・・で，どーですか，今年の夏イベの準備は，進んでますか？今回はどんな感じになるんすか？
T: Well, barley tea is fine. How are the preparations for this year's summer event? What are we going to experience this time?

タ：今年の夏イベは，作戦規模は「中規模」で作戦海域数はあまり多くはないのですが，今年の夏イベは，ですね・・・！
Ta: This year's summer event is a medium scale event with not as many maps. This years summer event is also...!

T：ごくリっ・・・今年の夏イベは・・・？
T: *gulp*... Summer event is also...?

タ：すばり「水着祭り」です！
Ta: A "Swimsuit Festival"

T：おお，「水着祭り」！って，なんじゃそりゃああぁぁ！
T:Oooh, a "Swimsuit Festival"... Wait, what!

タ：あ、そうじゃなくて、隠れコンセプト的何かが「水着祭り」といいましょうか。
Ta: Ah, that's not quite right. The underlying concept is a "Swimsuit Festival"

T：大和や榛名たちが水着で戦う・・・ってわけですよね。それ，全然隠れてないっす。
T: So that's why Yamato, Haruna and the others are... fighting in swimsuits. Hey, that's not underlying at all.

タ：もちろん、それだけではなくって。
Ta: Of course, but that's not all.

T：なくって？
T: Carry on?

タ：えーとですね、艦娘だけじゃなくって、深海棲艦の姫級の一部の皆さんも水着になって登場するという・・・。
Ta: Well... not only the ship girls, but the princess-type abyssals will get swimsuits as well.

T：それ、冗談っすよね？
T:Are you joking around with me?

タ：ホントです。
Ta: I'm serious.

T：なんじゃあ、そりゃあああ（善）！
T: What the hell you mean! (with good intention)

タ：まあ，春が重い激戦だったので、たまにはこういう方向性もどうだろうかと、でもちゃんと中身は熱くなってますよ！これは裏コンセプトみたいなものなので、イベント深部に進んだ提督方のお楽しみということで。
Ta: Well, because spring was a hard battle, it's good to have a change of pace once in a while; but the content will be hot! The underlying concept like this, is for admirals to have fun in the later stages of the event.

T：いや、もう言っちゃってるから裏でもなんでもないような。でも、イベント作戦海域のモチーフはきっとあるんでしょ？
T: Man, it's not underlying anymore once you've said it out loud. But the event surely has a theme as well right?

タ：はい！ずばり、今夏イベのモチーフは「マレー沖海戦」で開発を進めています！ただし、「艦これ」世界では，西方戦域が深海棲艦の逆襲を受け，かなり押し込まれたラインでこれを迎撃，反撃していくif展開の「第二マレー沖海戦」となります。
Ta: Yes! The theme developed for this event is the "Battle Off Malaya" (AKA Sinking of the Prince of Wales and Repulse)! However, in the world of Kancolle, the abyssals were counterattacked in the Western Theater following that batttle; so in order to break through our lines, the kanmusus have launched an attack to intercept them; the counterattack operation will be a "what if" operation entitled "2nd Battle Off Malaya".

T：おお、マレー沖モチーフ！ということな、基地航空隊も出番があるっすね！
T: Ooh, so the theme takes place off Malaya. If that's the case, then the Land-Based Air Squadrons will be making a return!

タ：そうですね。史実のマレー沖海戦では、基地航空隊だけで、敵主力戦艦を仕留めましたが，今回はIFの「第二次」マレー沖なので，水雷戦や水上主力艦隊も大いに活躍してくれる作戦展開となる予定です。
Ta: That's right. Historically, the air force played a key role in sinking the important enemy battleships; this time, because it's the what if operation of the "2nd Battle" Off Malaya, your torpedo squadrons and main fleets will be key to succeeding in the operation.

T：おおー、いいっすね。・・・となると、シンガポール要塞があったあたりには、また何かがご復活されているわけですね。港湾または要塞棲姫さんあたりが！
T: Oooh, that sound good. ...Come to think of it, there was a Singapore Fortress; are you planning any sort of revival. Like as a harbour or fortress princess!

タ：（熱をこめて）そうですね。あそこはあの戦域の要衝ですからね！それはいるでしょうよ！きっと！でも、そこに鎮座するのは、ただしの棲姫さんじゃありません。だって、夏だから！さっき言ったでしょう。そこにいるのは、水着姿で夏深海艤装の夏姫さん、そんな実装計画です。
Ta: (With Passion That's right. That was a key strategic location of the area! Of course it will show up! Definitely! But what is located there is no ordinary princess. Because it's summer! I told you already. We're planning to implement a swimsuit summer dressed summer princess over there.

T：なんじゃあ、そりゅあああああああ！
T: What the hell is that?

タ：（少し我にかえって）ああ、すみません。あくまで計画ですから、そこまで出来ないかも・・・。
Ta (Come to his sense) Sorry for that. It's just a plan. Maybe we can't do that much.....

T：ウソだ！そこに、ラフがあるじゃないっすか！なんすか、この深海棲艦はあああ！
T: Liar! Isn't that a sketch over there! What is that abyssal!

タ：あ、これは、まだ部外秘なのです！だめなのです！
Ta: That's still classified! Not going to let you see that!

T：恐るべし、「艦これ」運営鎮守府・・・まだこんな手を隠していたとは。
T: Can't underestimate the Naval Base Management Team. Never think you still have an ace in the hole.

タ：いや、まぁ、隠してるというか、ほとんど言っちゃってるよな・・・。
Ta: Well, I didn't really hide anything, as it seems I have almost told you everything already......

T：あと気になるのは夏イベで実装される目玉艦っすけど、マレー沖というモチーフを考えると、これは正真正銘の英国生まれ、せんかんP・O・Wか・・・！？
T: Also I'm curious about the main ship being implemented in the summer event, since it's the Battle Off Malaya, could it be the genuine British battleship Prince of Wales...!?

タ：あ・・・切り込んできましたね。今夏の夏イベで、確かに英国戦艦を実装予定です。でも本作戦は、IFの第二次マレー沖。P・O・Wでもレパルスでもない・・・この英国戦艦・・・〜！
Ta: Ah, so you've heard. A British battleship is definitely being implemented this summer event. But, this is the 2nd Battle Off Malaya. The British battleship will not be Prince of Wales or Repulse.

T：まさか！そのラフは・・・！わー！来ちゃうんっすね！
T: That can't be! Then what is that sketch! That's her right!

タ：今夏、実装予定です！予定！
Ta: It's just implementation plans for summer! Just plans!

T：ついに英国艦娘！楽しみっす！
T: Finally a British ship girl! I'm looking forward to it!

タ：この英国艦娘をはじめとして、今夏、複数の新艦娘を実装予定です。ぜひ楽しみにしていてください！
Ta: Besides the British ship girl, we're also implementing other ship girls. Please look forward to it!

T：そして今夏以降の展開はどんな形になるっすか？
T: So what have you got planned after summer?

タ：８月の”第参回「艦これ」観艦式”、その少し後の中旬に今年の夏イベントを実装・作戦開始，そして夏コミですね。今回は、KADOKAWAさんから出る夏コミ公式グッズとともに，日本郵便さんから８月12日（金）より夏コミ会場の臨時郵便局及び全国３０３局また「郵便局のネットショップ」で「艦これ」公式フレーム切手セットが発売されます。夏の衣笠さんどの描きおろしも投入しています。また秋口には秋祭りをモチーフにした大型コラボ、そして秋本番には食べ物に特化した「艦これ」ならではのリアルイベントを企画中です。そして、秋イベントですね！
Ta: In August we will be hosting the 3rd Kancolle Naval Review, after that in the 2nd third of the month will be the summer event and summer Comiket. On 12 Aug, along with official Kadokawa goods, Japan Post will be releasing an official stamp set at the Comiket, post offices around the nation and their web store. We've also got summer Kinugasa art. We will be having a large collaboration in fall with the motif of an "Autumn Festival"; in addition to that, a real life Kancolle event focused around food. Then after that, the fall event!

T：いろいろと準備してるっすね！
T: You've got your work cut out for you!

タ：あと、「艦これ」アーケード初めてのイベントもあります。五航戦も遂に登場します。お楽しみに！そして、本家では秋以降いよいよあのタイプの新型航空機や新システムも得入されます，また，通常海域で邂逅する新艦娘、晚秋には遂に劇場版「艦これ」が・・・。
Ta: Also, Kancolle Arcade will be getting its first event. The 5th Carrier Division will finally be arriving. Please look forward to that! In the main version, there will be new planes and a new system implemented. Also, new ship girls will be implemented into normal maps; and finally the Kancolle movie will...

T：いやー書ききれないボリュームっす。もう来月「艦これ」特集を組むしかないっす。今夏もお付き合いよろしくっす！とこれ、いただいていくっす！では！
T: You really can't stop. We won't have any more material left for next month's Kancolle special feature. Thank you for talking about this summer! I'm grateful! And on that note!

(２０１６年７月下旬/「艦これ」運営鎮守府にて）
(Late July 2016/by Kancolle Administrative Naval Base)

Credit goes to Leyana, Anged Obsucrity,Remi Scarlet, Thomas Akagi, a 4chan anon and 211303 for translation assistance. Article provided by 211303