About the tabloid article mentioned.

While the person from Kadokawa game did have worries about how well the game will be accepted by the surviving crews, Ikeda as ex-crew of Yahagi gave positive response.
He think Yahagi is cute, and yes, she's a good girl

Japanese Cruiser Yahagi

Yahagi was the third of the four Agano-class light cruisers. She was built under the 4th Naval Armaments Supplement Program (Circle 4 Program) of 1939. She was laid down on November 11, 1941 at Sasebo Naval Arsenal, her construction took 713 days. She was launched on October 25, 1943 and was commissioned to the IJN on December 29, 1943. Her standard displacement is 6,652 tons, she’s equipped with 4 shaft Gihon geared turbines and 6 Kampon boilers which capable of producing 100,000 horsepower, she carries 1,405 tons of fuel. Her speed could reach up to 35 knots. Her initial armaments were three twin 15.2cm (6 inch) 50 cal. 41st Year Type naval guns, two twin 7.6cm (3 inch) 65 cal. Type-98 high-angle secondary turrets, thirty-two 25mm Type-96 auto-cannons, and two quadruple 61cm (24 inch) torpedo tubes, she also carries 48 naval mines. She could carry 2 floatplanes which she could launch on her aviation catapult.

Upon commissioning, she was assigned as flagship of the DesRon 10 commanded by Rear Admiral Kimura Susumu; DesRon 10 was attached to the IJN 3rd Fleet. On February 4, 1944, she departed from Kure for Iwakuni. On February 5, 1944, she departed from Iwakuni for Awaji Shima. On the next day, she departed from Awaji Shima and proceeded to South China Sea; she escorted carrier Shoukaku, heavy cruiser Chikuma from CruDiv 8, destroyers Akigumo and Kazagumo from DesDiv 10 and Hatsuzuki and Wakatsuki from DesDiv 61. On February 13, 1944, they arrived at Stelar Base in Singapore. On February 18, 1944, she departed from Singapore and proceeds to Lingga Road for training; she arrives at Lingga on the same day.

On May 11, 1944, Yahagi departs from Lingga to Tawi-Tawi anchorage; she was assigned to Force A, commanded by Vice Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo for the Operation A-go. She was together with armored carrier Taihou, standard carriers Shoukaku and Zuikaku, heavy cruisers Myoukou and Haguro from CruDiv 5, with 9 destroyers. On May 15, 1944, she undergoes through training within Tawi-Tawi. On June 8, 1944, she received provisions from replenishment ship Kitakami Maru.

On June 13, 1944, Operation A-go commenced, the Force A departed from Tawi-Tawi together with the Force C and proceed to Guimaras; they were spotted by USN submarine USS Redfin SS-272. On June 14, 1944, she refuels from the 2nd Support Force while at Guimaras. On June 14, 1944, the mobile fleet departs from Guimaras while Force C departs from Tawi-Tawi, they were ordered to rendezvous near Marianas and strike the USN 5th Fleet commanded by Admiral Spruance as part of the IJN’s Kantai Kassen doctrine. On June 15, 1944, they were spotted by submarine USS Flying Fish SS-229 while passing through the San Bernardino Strait; the submarine reported the position of the Mobile Force. On June 16, 1944, the mobile fleet rendezvous with the Force C. The mobile fleet refuels from the 1st Supply Force. The mobile fleet was sighted by submarine USS Cavalla SS-244 while steaming through the Philippine Sea. On June 18, 1944, the IJN fleet splits into two, Forces A and B proceed southward while Force C proceeds eastward. On June 19, 1944, the IJN carriers launched their planes and attacked Task Force 58 commanded by Vice Admiral Mitscher but the outcome was disastrous that caused an overwhelming lost for the IJN aircraft. On the same day, Cavalla gained an attacking position and fired six torpedoes; three torpedoes hit Shoukakou that sank her, Urakaze counters against Cavalla but it only caused minor damage. She rescued 570 survivors from Shoukaku together with Urakaze and Hatsuzuki; this includes Shoukaku’s captain, CO. Matsubara, who was taken by Yahagi. On June 20, 1944, she retired together with the remaining ship from the mobile fleet to Nagakushu Bay, Okinawa, and refueled afterwards.

On June 24, 1944, she arrived at Hashirajima then by the late of June was docked for modification at Kure Naval Yard. She was refitted with two triple 25mm Type-96 auto-cannons plus Type-13 air-search radar and Type-22 surface-search radar were also installed. Modification was completed by the early days of July.

On June 8, 1944, she departed from Kure; she carried IJA troops and materials and escorted battleships Kongou and Haruna from BatDiv 3, Nagato from BatDiv 1 with 4 destroyers from DesDiv 17. On July 10, 1944, she arrives at Nakagusuku Bay, Okinawa; she departed from Okinawa two days later then arrives at Manila on July 14, 1944. On July 17, 1944, she departed from Manila for Singapore. On June 19, 1944 midnight, she detected four torpedoes swimming for Kongou, the torpedoes somehow missed their target, the escorts failed to locate the submarine. The group managed arrived at Singapore on the same day then departs for Lingga afterwards. From July 20 to October 18, 1944, she undergoes through training within Lingga. On September 30, 1944, she receives provisions from Kitakami Maru. On October 18, 1944, she steams from Lingga to Brunei Bay.

On October 22, 1944, she sortied from Brunei for the Operation Sho-go; she was assigned to the Second Section Force of the Center Force together with 4 destroyers, she escorted Kongou and Haruna, and heavy cruisers Tone, Chikuma, Suzuya and Kumano from CruDiv 7. Later on, the second section force rendezvous with the first section of the Center Force commanded by Vice Admiral Kurita. On October 23, 1944, the Center Force was ambushed by USN submarines, USS Darter SS-227 and USS Dace SS-247; the submarines sank Atago and Maya and heavily damaged Takao, Naganami detached from the group to assist Takao. On October 24, 1944, USS Enterprise CV-6, USS Essex CV-9, USS Intrepid CV-11, USS Franklin CV-13, USS Lexington CV-16 and USS Cabot CVL-28 from Task Force 38 launched their planes and attack the Center Force while at Sibuyan Sea; the airstrike sank Musashi and damaged Yamato and Nagato. Yahagi was bombed from the attack that leaves a 4-5 meter diameter hole on her starboard area; this reduced her speed to 20 knots. Emergency repairs were carried out that restored her speed to 28 knots. Kiyoshimo and Hamakaze detached from the group after rescuing survivors from Musashi. The Center Force temporary withdrawn for their position to confuse the USN carriers, then they resumed their course to Leyte and passes through the San Bernardino Strait.

On October 25, 1944, the Center Force encounters the USN Task Unit 77.4.6 (Taffy 3) commanded by Rear Admiral Sprague which composed of 6 escort carriers, 3 destroyers and 4 destroyer escorts. About 400 aircraft were launched by both Taffies 1, 2 and 3; the aircraft attacked the incoming Center Force. Yahagi’s bridge was strafed by the aircraft. Then USS Johnston DD-557 leaded the assault, Johnston torpedoed Kumano and relentlessly fired her guns against the Center Force. Soon destroyers USS Hoel DD-533, USS Heermann DD-532 and USS Samuel B. Roberts DE-413 followed Johnston. Yahagi was struck by one shell at her portside cabin during the engagement. The DesRon 10 leaded by Yahagi encountered the damaged Johnston, despite heavy damaged she receive from the IJN battleships, Johnston still planned to intercept DesRon 10, Yahagi and the destroyers open fire at Johnston until the destroyer was put out of operational. DesRon 10 to pursue the Taffy 3, they fired a total of 27 Type-93 torpedoes against the USN task unit; none of the torpedoes hit their targets. Suzuya, Choukai and Chikuma were sunk while Tone and Haguro sustained heavy damage from the engagement. Because of the overwhelming confusion, Kurita decided to withdraw from the battle and abandoned the operation. The Center Force retreated through the San Bernardino Strait and the Sibuyan Sea. As they withdraw, the USN aircraft continues to attack the Center Force, Yahagi was attacked for 18 times, fire occurs on one of her torpedo tube, her communication room was damaged from strafing, and lost 14 of her crew with many injured because of these attacks.

On October 26, 1944, at 08:00, the group was once again attacked by 30 carrier-base aircraft from Tablas Strait, and another 50 dive-bombers and torpedo-bombers which sunk Noshiro and damaged Kumano again. At 10:40, they were bombed by 30 B-24 bombers from USAAF. At 10:45, the group was once again attack by 60 carrier-base aircraft; Yahagi sustained no damage from these attacks. Throughout the battle, Yahagi expended 367 rounds from her main turret, 600 rounds from her secondary guns, 205 anti-aircraft ammunition, 27,000 machine gun rounds, and 6 depth charges with 44 people who were either killed, missing, or wounded in action, she also lost one of her floatplanes during the battle. On October 28, 1944, she arrived at Brunei.

On November 8, 1944, she departed from Brunei towards Pratas Islands with DesDiv 17; she escorted battleships Yamato, Nagato, Kongou and Haruna, carrier Jun’you, heavy cruisers Tone, Haguro and Ashigra, and light cruiser Kiso with 2 destroyers from DesDiv 30. Ashigara detached to Brunei while Kiso with DesDiv 30 detached to Manila, the group returned to Brunei afterwards. On November 11, 1944, she arrived at Brunei. On November 16, 1944, she was attacked by 34 B-24 bombers escorted by 15 P-38 fighters from USAAF, she sustained no damage. On the same day, DesRon 10 was deactivated; Yahagi was designated as flagship of the new DesRon 2. On November 16, 1944, she departed from Brunei with DesDiv 17; they escorted Yamato, Nagato and Kongou.

On November 21, 1944, USS Sealion SS-315 attacked the group, Sealion sank Kongou and Urakaze, Hamakze and Isokaze stayed behind to rescue survivors. Yahagi arrived at Sasebo on November 24, 1944; she was docked for repairs afterwards. Her Repairs was completed December 18, 1944. From December 21, 1944, she departed Kure for Hashirajima; she undergoes through battle training together with Yamato until March 29, 1945, she was put on stand-by afterwards.

On April 6, 1945, Yahagi was assigned to the Special Surface Attack Force commanded by Vice Admiral Ito for the Operation Ten-go, she escorted Yamato together with destroyers Kasumi, Hatsushimo, Asashimo, Isokaze, Hamakaze, Yukikaze, Fuyutsuki and Suzutsuki. They departed at Tokuyama at 16:00. Within the Bungo Channel, they spotted USN submarines USS Threadfin SS-410 and USS Hackleback SS-295, the submarines failed to gain any attacking position and decided to withdraw afterwards. On April 7, 1945, USN carrier-base planes arrived at 12:00. At 12:46, she was struck by one torpedo which completely stopped her; Isokaze attempted to rescue Yahagi but was bombed by the enemy aircraft. At 13:20, the second wave arrived and struck Yahagi with additional 6 torpedoes and 12 bombs. At 14:05, she capsized to her starboard, 445 of her crew went down with her. Hatsushimo and Yukikaze rescued 555 survivors including Rear Admiral Komura and CO. Hara, 133 of her crew were injured, her crew witnessed the intense explosion from Yamato that created an almost 20,000 feet mushroom-cloud.

Yahagi sunk on April 7, 1945, southwest of Nagasaki. A damaged 12-cm high-angle binocular telescope that was used by Ikeda Takekuni during the Battle of Leyte Gulf was kept in the Naval History Museum of Etajima.

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Seika said:

About the tabloid article mentioned.

While the person from Kadokawa game did have worries about how well the game will be accepted by the surviving crews, Ikeda as ex-crew of Yahagi gave positive response.
He think Yahagi is cute, and yes, she's a good girl

Link to that Article.

This is one of the thing which makes Kancolle somehow special.