Tekken: Heihachi and Kuma’s Relationship Explained

by

Tekken: Heihachi and Kuma's Relationship Explained

As a seasoned Tekken player with over two decades of battles under my belt, I must say that the return of Heihachi Mishima to the arena in Tekken 8 fills me with both excitement and bewilderment. The man just can’t seem to stay dead! But hey, who am I to question the immortality of a billionaire industrialist with access to advanced gene manipulation technology?

In the upcoming game Tekken 8, one of the franchise’s prominent figures, Heihachi Mishima, is set to appear as a downloadable content (DLC) character. Despite being presumed dead following his son Kazuya Mishima’s actions in Tekken 7, where he was tossed into a volcano filled with lava, Heihachi, much like on numerous occasions before, has miraculously come back to life. Among his foes within the Tekken 8 roster, he also maintains some allies, with Kuma the bear being one of them, whose bond with Heihachi is particularly strong.

In the lineup for Tekken 8, the current Kuma character is actually referred to as Kuma 2. His predecessor, the original Kuma, passed away some time between the events of Tekken 2 and Tekken 3. Despite his father’s demise, Kuma 2 maintains a bond with Heihachi that mirrors the strength of their relationship prior to the elder Kuma’s death. Series enthusiasts are likely divided into two main groups: those questioning how and why Heihachi has been reintroduced, and those who are thrilled about the revival of such a significant aspect of Tekken’s storyline.

Heihachi’s Relationship With Kuma Explained

Initially discovering Kuma as a young, orphaned bear in the woodlands bordering the Mishima Estate, Heihachi took him under his wing, recognizing that this wasn’t an ordinary bear due to its exceptional intelligence and strength. Always on the lookout for opportunities, Heihachi chose to train Kuma, imparting knowledge of sign language and combat techniques. The bear proved to be a quick learner, excelling in both areas to such an extent that Heihachi designated him as his personal bodyguard. Upon Heihachi’s orders, Kuma participated in the initial King of Iron Fist Tournament but was bested by Paul Phoenix, setting the stage for a prolonged rivalry.

After suffering this loss, Kuma withdrew with his master to a mountain training facility, intensifying their training sessions together to deepen their relationship. Regardless of his increased efforts, Kuma was defeated twice by Paul in Tekken 2 and eventually passed away before Tekken 3. Between these two games’ storylines, Kuma had a son named Kuma 2, who demonstrated greater skill and intelligence than his father, swiftly taking over as Heihachi’s bodyguard.

Kuma 2’s Bond With Heihachi is as Strong as His Father’s Was

In the King of Iron Fist Tournament 3, just as his father had been, Kuma 2 met defeat at the hands of Paul Phoenix. This experience led Kuma 2 to forsake his lavish lifestyle as a kept pet and instead retreat into solitude in the wilderness to enhance his abilities. Despite this isolation, Kuma 2’s affection for Heihachi remained unchanged throughout this period. His dedication eventually bore fruit when he overcame Paul in Tekken 4. After this victory, Kuma 2 spent a considerable amount of time grieving the presumed demise of Heihachi.

In recent times, Kuma 2 has been devoted to furthering Heihachi’s objectives. While he was thought to be deceased, Kuma 2 strived to seize control of Heihachi’s corporation, the Mishima Zaibatsu, though his efforts were unsuccessful. Upon rejoining with his master, he was swiftly assigned to Heihachi’s Tekken Force unit, tasked with maintaining order in troubled regions worldwide. Despite Kazuya seemingly killing Heihachi during the climax of Tekken 7, Kuma 2 refused to accept it and has been battling against Kazuya’s forces since then, remaining hopeful for his master’s resurrection.

Read More

2024-10-09 12:36