Harada's Preferred Fighting Stick Unveiled

Katsuhiro Harada, the renowned producer and director behind the Tekken series, recently shared insights into his preferred fighting stick. This piece delves into the controller that has become an integral part of his life and the deep sentimental value it holds for him.

Tekken Producer and Director Still Rocks a PS3 Fight Stick

Harada’s Fightstick is his ‘Fighting EDGE’

Katsuhiro Harada's interest in custom arcade sticks was sparked by an Olympic Sharpshooter's use of a similar part during the recent Olympics. This led fans to inquire about his own choice of fighting stick. Surprisingly, Harada revealed his unwavering loyalty to the Hori Fighting EDGE, a PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 fightstick that has been out of production for years.

While the Hori Fighting EDGE may seem unremarkable to the average gamer—merely a controller launched twelve years ago—it holds a special significance for Harada due to its serial number: "00765". This number is noteworthy because it phonetically represents "Namco" in Japanese, the company responsible for the Tekken series.

It's uncertain whether Harada specifically chose this serial number, received it as a gift from Hori, or if it was a lucky coincidence. Nonetheless, the number resonates deeply with Harada, symbolizing his connection to Namco's heritage. His attachment to this number is so strong that he has even incorporated it 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 used during his match against Twitch streamer LilyPichu at EVO 2024, his preference for the Hori Fighting EDGE remains steadfast. Though it may not boast the latest features, its long-standing reliability and personal significance make it irreplaceable to Harada.