| “ | It's the fate of our family to fight and betray each other. It's in our blood. | „ |
| ~ Kazuya describing the curse. |
| “ | My beloved Heihachi will inevitably engulf the world in war and destruction resulting in the loss of many innocent lives. | „ |
| ~ Kazumi |
| “ | A fight is about who's left standing. Nothing else. | „ |
| ~ Heihachi's motto. |
| “ | More blood has been shed. This family is a curse. | „ |
| ~ Jin |
The Mishima Family are the main characters of the Tekken franchise.
They are a group of powerful and rich martial artists that lead the Mishima Zaibatsu and are known to feud with each other and anyone to take over the world. They are also connected to the Devil Gene and Azazel, and were also exorcists in the past.
Biography[]
The Mishimas had been around since the Heian period and according to Yoshimitsu's profile, they were exorcists in the past. The family was later able to capitalize on World War II and eventually build an empire in Japan.
Jinpachi Mishima was the founder of the company and would later try to go away from the military due to his shame in his crimes and later decided to focus on training in martial arts. He would make his own dojo and form the Mishima style Karate and later trained his son Heihachi Mishima and later Kazumi Mishima as his pupils. Jinpachi was also good friends with Wang Jinrei. Jinpachi would also train Kazuya Mishima his grandson and later revealed that Kazumi was a member of the Hachijo clan who carried the Devil Gene that they got from Azazel years ago. They feared the Mishima would foil the plans for their master, so they sent Kazumi to destroy them. Heihachi, growing dissatisfied with his father's gentle nature, eventually usurped him and later killed Kazumi out of self-defense and eventually became even worse. Heihachi would later imprison Jinpachi below the Mishima Zaibatsu. He would later throw Kazuya to see if he had the Devil Gene (it was originally to see that if he was strong enough to climb the cliff to obtain the Mishima Zaibatsu).
Kazuya survives and thus starts the feud in future games. Heihachi announced the first King of Iron Fist Tournament. Kazuya, now an adult, sought revenge and succeeded in beating Heihachi and throwing him off the same cliff he was thrown off. Kazuya was revealed to have been corrupted by his abuse of Heihachi and became worse than his father.
He later organized the second King of Iron Fist Tournament, during which he encountered Jun Kazama, who sought to free him from the darkness within him. Kazuya and Jun ended up having a son, Jin Kazama, who also possessed the Devil Gene. Kazuya was defeated by Heihachi at the second tournament and supposedly killed.
Fifteen years later, after the apparent death of his mother, Jin sought Heihachi out and begged him to make him stronger, in order to prepare him for revenge against his mother's killer. Jin was raised by his grandfather for four years, and had a more amiable relationship with Heihachi during this time than Heihachi's sons had.
At the end of the third Iron Fist Tournament, Jin was shot in the head by his grandfather, triggering the awakening of his Devil Gene and transforming him into Devil Jin. From this moment on, Jin has despised his Mishima heritage and sought to undo the evil it represented. This has included fighting his grandfather and father (who had been revived by G Corporation) in the aftermath of the fourth tournament. Jin also defeated his great-grandfather, Jinpachi, who had been reanimated by a demonic spirit after his death.
After defeating Jinpachi, Jin assumed control of the Mishima Zaibatsu, and exhibited a more tyrannical side. This led his uncle, Lars, a captain within Tekken Force at the time, to lead a coup against him. Since then, Lars has banded together with Heihachi's adopted son, Lee Chaolan, to oppose the corporate war raging between G Corporation, now headed by Kazuya, and the Mishima Zaibatsu. The two later harbored Jin from his enemies and now plan to use him to end the war. Heihachi was killed in a one-on-one fight with Kazuya, leaving Kazuya the primary aggressor in a global war, and now pitched directly against his brothers and son. With the events of the eighth tournament, Jin has been struggling with his guilt and his powers until he meets Reina and she later joins in stopping Kazuya. Jin reunited with Xiaoyu and went to Yakushima. Kazuya later revives Azazel and kills him to absorb his power. Near the end, Jin unlocks his angel form thanks to help from his mother Jun. Angel Jin and True Devil Kazuya clashed until they lost their powers. At the end of their fight as normal humans, Jin defeats Kazuya and goes to see Xiaoyu with Jun there to help Kazuya. Reina, however, who survived Devil Kazuya's blast, reveals herself to Heihachi's daughter and vows to avenge him transforming into her devil form meaning the Mishima family drama is still far from over.
Members[]
Jinpachi Mishima[]
The founder and first head of the Mishima Zaibatsu, father of Heihachi, grandfather of Kazuya, Lars and Reina, great-grandfather of Jin, and the first patriarch of the Mishima family. Saved by Jin from his demonic spirit and died as of Tekken 5. Unlike most of the Mishima members, who were ruthless and power-hungry, he was kind and honorable compared to his son and former World War II, but he regretted it, so he defied to distinct himself and focus on martial arts, but Heihachi betrayed him and left him to starve to death when an evil spirit took over him until Jin kills him. He was introduced as the main antagonist of Tekken 5.
Heihachi Mishima[]
The second patriarch, son of Jinpachi, husband of Kazumi, father of Kazuya, Lars and Reina, adoptive father of Lee, and grandfather of Jin. He was one of the reasons the Mishimas became what they are thanks to his greed and the other being Kazumi's on her Devil Gene from Azazel.
He was the main antagonist of Tekken, the main protagonist of Tekken 2, the main antagonist of Tekken 3 and Tekken 4, the overarching antagonist of Tekken 5, the supporting antagonist of Tekken 6, one of the two main characters (alongside his son Kazuya) of Tekken 7, and the overarching antagonist of Tekken 8.
Kazumi Mishima[]
The daughter-in-law of Jinpachi, wife of Heihachi, mother of Kazuya, and grandmother of Jin. She was the one who gave Kazuya and Jin their Devil Genes and sent her clan the Hachijos to kill Heihachi because they feared they become a threat to the world. But she was likely kept in the dark about Azazel, the evil demon of which the Devil Gene came and the Hachijos were one of his servants. Killed by Heihachi prior to the events of Tekken. She was introduced as the overarching antagonist of Tekken 7.
Kazuya Mishima[]
The third patriarch, son of Heihachi and Kazumi, grandson of Jinpachi, father of Jin, half-brother of Lars and Reina, and adoptive brother of Lee. He started as a kind boy until Heihachi's abuse turned him into a deluded villain. According to his father Heihachi and his son Jin, he has delusions of grandeur.
Unlike most of the Mishima members, however, Kazuya has no remorse, genuinely well-intentioned goals, almost have no sheds of humanity or other redeeming traits, making him possibly the worst of the family. However, after being utterly defeated at the hands of his son Jin and losing his Devil Gene as of Tekken 8, he will probably begin to show redemption in later entries especially with Jun's return.
He is the main protagonist of Tekken, the main antagonist of Tekken 2, a minor character in Tekken 3, the secondary antagonist of Tekken 4, one of the two main protagonists (alongside his son Jin) of Tekken 5, the secondary antagonist of Tekken 6, one of the two main characters (alongside his father Heihachi) of Tekken 7, and the main antagonist of Tekken 8.
Jin Kazama[]
The son of Kazuya and Jun, grandson of Heihachi and Kazumi, great-grandson of Jinpachi, half-nephew of Lars and Reina, and adoptive nephew of Lee. He started as a kind boy with his mother Jun Kazama, mastering the Kazama Style Fighting Karate at Yakushima. On his fifteenth birthday, however, believing that his mother was killed at the hands of Ogre, he began to seek revenge on the creature, under his grandfather Heihachi's teachings before he was betrayed and shot by Heihachi. Heihachi's betrayal awakened Jin's Devil Gene and attacked him. After regaining his senses, he showed hatred against the Mishima bloodline until the spirit of Jun ordered her son to spare Heihachi. Jin defeated Jinpachi in the final stage and took over as the new head of the Mishima Zaibatsu.
As the head of the Zaibatsu, he declared war against the world filled with negative energy in order to awaken and destroy Azazel, the original Devil Gene progenitor. Jin suddenly disappeared when Heihachi regained his role as the head of the Mishima Zaibatsu before he was killed by Kazuya. After Heihachi's death at the hands of Kazuya, Jin finally defeated his father, seemingly ending the curse of the Mishima bloodline by following Jinpachi's pacifistic footsteps instead of a malicious footsteps of his father and his grandfather. He took his mother's surname as he was raised by her. He also possibly took his great-grandfather's first name.
He has been the main protagonist of these games. He was introduced as the main protagonist of Tekken 3 and Tekken 4, one of the two main protagonists (alongside his father Kazuya) of Tekken 5, the main antagonist of Tekken 6, the supporting character of Tekken 7, and later returns as the main protagonist of Tekken 8. He is the only Mishima member who has the blood of a Kazama and the Devil Gene until he loses the latter at the end of 8.
Lars Alexandersson[]
The illegitimate son of Heihachi, grandson of Jinpachi, half-brother of Kazuya and Reina, half-uncle of Jin, and adoptive half-brother of Lee. He is one of the more noble of the Mishimas like his grandfather Jinpachi and introduced as the main protagonist of Tekken 6. He later returns as one of the main protagonists of Tekken 7, and the deuteragonist of Tekken 8.
Lee Chaolan[]
The adoptive son of Heihachi and Kazumi, adoptive uncle of Jin, adoptive brother of Kazuya, adoptive grandson of Jinpachi, and adoptive half-brother of Lars and Reina.
Reina[]
The illegitimate daughter of Heihachi, granddaughter of Jinpachi, half-aunt of Jin, half-sister of Kazuya and Lars, and adoptive half-sister of Lee. Not much is known about her other than being a Mishima high school student. Unlike the rest of her kin who hates Heihachi, Reina loves Heihachi and seeks to avenge his death and continue his legacy as well as another Devil Gene carrier as well being the only user left after Jin and Kazuya lost theirs. She is also the last descendant of the hachijos after heihachi killed them all.
Quotes[]
| “ | I'm impressed that you've made it this far. I am Jinpachi Mishima. My goal is... My goal is to destroy all existence! | „ |
| ~ Jinpachi |
| “ | Greetings, everyone. It has been so long! Can you guess why you're seeing me now? That's right. The Mishima Zaibatsu is back in the hands of its rightful owner. And you all know what that means. I have a message for all the fighters around the world! The King of Iron Fist Tournament is back! | „ |
| ~ Heihachi announcing the seventh King of Iron Fist Tournament. |
| “ | If I die, if I can't stop Heihachi... then you must do it for me. Kazuya? That boy... is still too young. And... Heihachi will soon realize that he was born with my powers. Heihachi is more powerful than you realize. Who knows... what Heihachi will do to Kazuya? Or to countless others? It is up to me. I must stop Heihachi. Even if this power consumes me and kills me in the process! I love Heihachi. And he loves me. | „ |
| ~ Kazumi |
| “ | I speak now to all of humanity. For too long have you humans relied on weapons and ordnance, transforming into a race of spineless weaklings. The rulers of this world are too frail and have forgotten what it means to fight. Why should we blindly abide by the rules and social conventions invented by such cowards? Foolish humans! Open your eyes! I shall rewrite the rules of this irrational world. Only those who show the depths of their mettle have any place in the new world I shall rule! Toward that end, I announce the opening of The King of Iron Fist Tournament! Come to the tournament, if you count yourself among the strong! Seize glory in your own hands, achieve it with your fists! But be warned: those who fail to prove their might shall be wiped from the earth, along with their country. Come, humanity! Unleash the dogs of war! | „ |
| ~ Kazuya's speech to humanity and threatens to destroy humanity while announcing the eighth King of Iron Fist Tournament. |
| “ | Zafina: (flashback) You will be a shining star of hope... Claudio: (flashback) You must survive. Leroy: (flashback) Believe in yourself and look to the future. Hwoarang: (flashback) Is that what you're all capable of? Jin: A... fight... A fight... is about survival. Kazuya: You just don't know when to quit...! Alisa: (flashback) Your will and resolve are stronger than any other. Everyone knows this, Jin. Lee: (flashback) You can pass the baton to us from time to time, you know. Leo: (flashback) I hope you can hold onto your true desires, Jin. Lars: (flashback) Sure took your time, my trump card. Jin: (These feelings gave me the courage to survive.) Kazuya: (irritated) Preposterous! Jun: (flashback) Jin... Xiaoyu: (flashback) Just don't lose sight of the things you wanna protect, okay? Jin: If it means living on with everyone, I'll get back on my feet as many times as it takes! Kazuya: Your refusal to quit is almost admirable. Even so, this match has already been decided! Jin: No longer will I deny my past... No longer will I deny my comrades and our bonds... I... I WANT TO LIVE! Kazuya: (greatly infuriated) BREAK, DAMN YOU! |
„ |
| ~ Jin rejecting his grandfather's motto and knowing what a fight is truly about. |
| “ | Heihachi, my father... On my life, I'll swear I'll-! | „ |
| ~ Reina revealing her true nature and unlocking her Devil Gene. |
Trivia[]
- The surname "Mishima" (三島) translates literally to "third island".
- Tekken 7, story-wise, was meant to serve as the conclusion of the "Mishima saga", and answer (amongst other Tekken mysteries) many questions regarding the family. However, whilst the story has progressed to the point where Heihachi has finally been killed by Kazuya, the clan's saga still continues, with Kazuya as the series' main antagonist.
- As of the good ending of Tekken 8, Kazuya has been defeated by his son, Jin Kazama, and both have had their Devil Gene removed, seemingly ending the greater conflict between the two. It is possible that conflict among the Mishima family will continue, however, as Reina is revealed to not only be a Mishima, but to have Devil abilities of her own. Her goal appears to be killing Kazuya Mishima as he killed Heihachi. Heihachi also returns meaning the mishima family contiunes even without devil gene for kazuya and jin.
- Every direct descendant of Jinpachi has at some point been in charge of the Mishima Zaibatsu.
- According to Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada, Kazuya was not the first Mishima family member to make contact with the devil, and that both Kazuya and Jin believe it started with Jinpachi but only Heihachi really knows who it was. Harada also pointed out that neither Jinpachi, Heihachi, nor Lars possess the Devil Gene. It was later confirmed in Tekken 7 that it was Kazumi Mishima who introduced the Devil Gene into the Mishima bloodline.
- With the exception of Jin Kazama, all members of the Mishima clan (Devil Jin included) are known for using the pronoun "kisama" (貴様) as their second-person pronoun when confronting each other. Kisama is extremely rude and offensive in nature, and is usually used by or against antagonists and archnemeses.
- An exception to this is Kazuya and his grandfather Jinpachi (toward each other), with Kazuya using "Anata"（あなた）(polite) and Jinpachi using "Omae" (お前) (considered affectionate when referring to close family and friends).
- The Mishima family also rarely call one other by parental pronouns (father or grandfather).
- Exceptions to this are Kazuya in Tekken 5 using "Jii-san" (じいーさん, grandpa) when referring to Jinpachi, or as a child in a flashback in his ending, where Kazuya refers to Jinpachi as "Jii-jii" (じいじい, grand-daddy).
- The other exception is Lee, who calls Heihachi "Otou-sama" (お父様, father dearest) though he does so with a mocking tone, as in his Tekken 5 interlude, for the strict education Heihachi made him follow.
- Similarly, Heihachi, in his interlude in Tekken 5 with Jinpachi, refers to him as Oyaji-dono (親父殿) with Oyaji being an informal version of "father" and Dono meaning "lord/milord", historically used as formal honorific. Today 'dono' is often used to exaggerate old age in old men. Oyaji-dono (親父殿) was used in medieval times in noble families as a highly respectful way of referring to one's own father (equivalent of modern otou-sama (御父様, father dearest)). Thus, Heihachi was mocking Jinpachi's age, or perhaps mocking the deference he was required to pay him whilst his father was the boss of the Mishima Zaibatsu or tutoring Heihachi in his youth.
- Reina is also another exception since she calls Heihachi her father.
- According to the opening credits sequence of Tekken 8's Story Mode, the Mishima Clan traditionally ruled over Yamato Province (modern-day Nara Prefecture).
