Katsuhiro Harada, the producer behind the Tekken series, recently provided insights into the intricate saga of the Mishima family during a discussion on Twitter. This family drama has roots tracing back to the inaugural Tekken game, where Kazuya Mishima plotted against his father, Heihachi, aiming to seize control of the Mishima Zaibatsu.
In Tekken 3 (1997), this conflict escalated as Jin Kazama, Kazuya’s son, joined the fight, igniting a generational feud that continues to unfold throughout the series.
As the Tekken story developed, new characters emerged, expanding the Mishima family dynamic. For instance, Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion introduced Lars Alexandersson, an illegitimate son of Heihachi, determined to halt his family’s dark legacy despite lacking the Devil Gene that empowers them. More recently, Tekken 8 showcased Reina, Heihachi’s estranged daughter, who possesses not only her father’s combat style but also her own Devil Gene.
Recently, producer Harada shared revelations regarding Heihachi’s immense family, claiming he has around 25 children, the outcome of bizarre experiments aimed at uncovering the origins of the Devil Gene present in Kazuya and Jin. His goal is to determine whether the Devil Gene is part of the Mishima lineage, venturing into various genetic research avenues.
In a startling confirmation, Harada indicated that Kazuya, along with Jin, inherited their Devil powers from Heihachi’s wife, Kazumi. This was dramatically illustrated in the first Tekken, where Heihachi infamously threw Kazuya off a cliff as a child. Unlike his relatives, Lars represents a different branch of the family, with a father who was a scientist affiliated with the Mishima Zaibatsu, explaining his lack of Devil powers.
The character Reina, on the other hand, is the child of a woman suspected by Heihachi to have the Devil Gene, which further complicates their family ties. Despite being part of such a dysfunctional family, Reina and Heihachi currently share a more positive bond; however, the future remains uncertain as to how these relationships will evolve in upcoming Tekken installments.
