Shimakaze takes her name from the Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer Shimakaze, launched in 1942 and famed for her exceptional speed during sea trials. She was reimagined as a fleet girl in Kantai Collection, the Japanese browser game released in 2013, and later appeared in its 2015 television anime. Her energetic personality and speed made her one of the game's most recognisable characters. Short voice clips of her spread through anime communities, gaming videos and soundboards, where fans reuse them as quick reactions and character callouts long after release.