sentences:  Designed by Captain Yuzuru Hiraga, the "Kii" class was based largely on the preceding s, which were in turn based on a less-armored "Tosa"-class design.The only major difference between the "Kii"s and "Amagi"s was their speed and armor—the "Amagi"s were faster, and the "Kii"s had a thicker belt.Despite this lineage, the "Kii"s were classified as "fast battleships" by the Japanese, as they had decided to end the distinction between "battleship" and "battlecruiser."