Harada's Preferred Fighting Stick Unveiled

Katsuhiro Harada, the renowned producer and director of the Tekken series, recently shared insights into his preferred fighting stick, a choice that reflects both personal history and sentiment. Dive into the story of the controller that has become an integral part of Harada's gaming journey.

Tekken Producer and Director Still Rocks a PS3 Fight Stick

Harada’s Fightstick is his ‘Fighting EDGE’

Katsuhiro Harada, the mastermind behind the Tekken series, caught the attention of fans when he commented on a custom arcade stick part used by an Olympic Sharpshooter. This sparked curiosity about his own gaming gear. Surprisingly, Harada revealed his unwavering loyalty to the Hori Fighting EDGE, a fightstick designed for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, which has been discontinued for some time.

While the Hori Fighting EDGE may seem unremarkable at first glance, having been released over a decade ago, it holds a unique charm for Harada. The serial number of his stick, "00765", is particularly special. In Japanese, these digits phonetically represent "Namco", the iconic company behind the Tekken franchise. Whether Harada specifically chose this serial number, received it as a thoughtful gift from Hori, or stumbled upon it by chance remains a mystery. What's clear, however, is the deep sentimental value this number holds for him, so much so that he's incorporated the same digits into his car's license plate.

Despite the allure of newer, advanced fighting sticks like the Tekken 8 Pro FS Arcade Fight Stick, which Harada wielded during his EVO 2024 showdown with Twitch streamer LilyPichu, his heart remains with the Hori Fighting EDGE. Its lack of modern features does not detract from the bond Harada has formed with it over the years, making it a cherished part of his gaming legacy.