Tekken's director and producer, Katsuhiro Harada, recently revealed his trusty fighting stick. Discover the story behind this controller, a long-time companion with significant sentimental value.
Tekken's Mastermind Favors a Classic PS3 Fightstick
Harada's "Fighting EDGE"
Katsuhiro Harada, the driving force behind the Tekken series, sparked curiosity after an Olympic sharpshooter used a custom arcade stick. This prompted questions about his own preferred controller. Surprisingly, Harada declared his unwavering loyalty to the discontinued Hori Fighting EDGE, a PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 fightstick.
The Hori Fighting EDGE itself is unremarkable; a twelve-year-old controller. However, its serial number, "00765," holds the key. This number is a phonetic representation of "Namco," Tekken's parent company, in Japanese.
Whether Harada specifically requested this serial number, received it as a gift, or it's pure chance remains a mystery. Regardless, the number carries deep sentimental significance for Harada, symbolizing Namco's legacy. His attachment is evident, extending to his car's license plate, which also incorporates these digits.
Considering the availability of modern, high-tech fighting sticks like the Tekken 8 Pro FS Arcade Fight Stick (used by Harada during his EVO 2024 match against LilyPichu), his choice is intriguing. While the Hori Fighting EDGE lacks the advanced features of newer models, its longevity and significance to Harada make it irreplaceable.
