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Mishima Zaibatsu (三島財閥?), roughly translated as Mishima Financial Group (MFG),[2] is a giant multinational conglomerate in the Tekken universe.

Originally founded by Jinpachi Mishima, the Mishima Zaibatsu capitalised on the arms industry during World War 2 and grew in power until, after the war, Jinpachi regretted the direction he had taken the company and his part in promoting violence. The Zaibatsu was significantly reduced in size after the war, as Jinpachi focused instead on growing his dojo.[3] Jinpachi lost the company to his son, Heihachi Mishima, who staged a coup when Kazuya Mishima was 5 years old. After attempting to retake the company from his son, Jinpachi was imprisoned by Heihachi, and vanished from the business world (this was the same year when Kazumi Mishima was killed, and Kazuya then thrown from a cliff). Heihachi went on to give the company the name it has today, and financially built-up and ran the organization for nearly 40 years, except for two brief interims.

During this time, the organization became the biggest developer of military equipment in the world. The companies grouped together in the syndicate include the Mishima Financial Empire, the mercenary group known as Tekken Force, and Mishima Industries. The group also owns at least one school, the Mishima Polytechnical, which also serves as a private training ground for their Tekken Force. The Mishima Zaibatsu is the main sponsor of the King of Iron Fist Tournaments, the central events of the Tekken video games. In addition to the prize money, ownership of the entire Mishima Zaibatsu is often offered as a prize to the winner of the tournament. Though this is not stated in every game, nearly every successful winner has taken control of the Zaibatsu. In some instances, ownership of the Zaibatsu is only offered to those who are in the Mishima Family.

Story[]

In the first King of Iron Fist Tournament, Kazuya fought and defeated Heihachi in the tournament, and, after supposedly killing his father, he then took over the Mishima Zaibatsu. During his time as head of the Zaibatsu, Kazuya increased Heihachi's corrupt practices, expanding the Zaibatsu's military output by buying up and taking over much of Hokkaido for the purpose, kidnapping scientists, trading illegally in animals and conducting experiments on them, alongside other corrupt practices. Two years later, his reign was toppled by Heihachi, who had survived Kazuya's beating, and who then proceeded to throw his son into a volcano after defeating him in a second tournament.

In the following 19 year period, Heihachi further increased the Zaibatsu's cruel practices. He continued to expand the Zaibatsu's military assets, creating the paramilitary group, Tekken Force, and conducted human experiments, whilst creating the illusion of being a global benefactor by sending his Tekken Force to pull media stunts. He secretly began using Tekken Force at this time to hunt for Ogre. During this time, and the the period after his main priority was seeking his own longevity and greater power. He initially sought to use Ogre's DNA to increase his lifespan, and, after this failed, instead tried to gain a sample of the Devil Gene for this purpose. In order to achieve these ends, Heihachi awoke the ancient god of fighting, indirectly causing the deaths of, or attacks on, many great fighters (King, Jun, and possibly Lee and Baek), shot his own grandson, raided G Corporation buildings for Devil Gene data, and orchestrated the stealing of reforestation data for use in his own experiments, such as the Devil-Human Integration Program. Heihachi's plans were stalled when G Corporation send a unit of JACKS to kill Kazuya whilst he was fighting Heihachi. Kazuya and Heihachi fought off the JACKs together, but Kazuya escaped, leaving his father to die as the Mishima family temple collapsed on top of him in an explosion. This seemingly killed Heihachi, causing Raven to announce that "Heihachi Mishima is dead".

With the absence of Heihachi, Jinpachi Mishima regained control of the Mishima Zaibatsu. Incarcerated beneath Hon-Maru until he starved to death, Jinpachi was reanimated by a demonic spirit and released into the world after Hon-Maru was blown up. Jinpachi announced the fifth tournament in order to find an opponent who could kill him before the demon animating his body caused untold destruction. Jinpachi was defeated and killed by his great-grandson, Jin Kazama, making Jin the next head of the conglomerate. Jin then used the vast resources of the Zaibatsu to sow civil unrest throughout the world. He declared the Zaibatsu an independent nation and waged war against the entire world in an attempt to awaken an ancient demon that he believed could only be defeated by someone with Devil blood. He also believed killing the demon would remove his devil curse, and give common people a chance to topple corrupt corporations and governments. During all of this, he announced the sixth tournament. Jin failed to remove his gene and disappeared after defeating Azazel, but the war continued to rage on between the Zaibatsu and Kazuya's G Corporation, which had now become the Zaibatsu's strongest adversary. After Jin's disappearance, Heihachi was able to reclaim the Zaibatsu during the events of the seventh tournament. Heihachi sought to win the war and to improve the Zaibatsu's image in the process, trying to paint G Corporation as the real evil by revealing Kazuya's devil form to the world. Public opinion was easily swayed back against the Zaibatsu however, when Kazuya's shot a Mishima Zaibatsu satellite out of orbit and the Zaibatsu was blamed for losing control of their own tech. Heihachi was killed by Kazuya at the end of Tekken 7, making the current owner of the Zaibatsu unknown.

Prior to the eighth tournament, the Mishima Zaibatsu was defeated by Kazuya, who successfully took the lead in the global war.[4] Without Heihachi or Kuma, The decision to surrender was made by the remnants of the organization's leadership, though the organization still exists in some capacity following their defeat.[5]

[]

Zaibatsu mon small

Zaibatsu mon

The Mishima Zaibatsu logo is a mon consisting of a three-pointed throwing star layed over a shield, with crossed feathers behind. The three points used in the mon are likely a reference to the three (mi) in the Mishima name.[6] Often the Zaibatsu's name in Japanese is written beneath the mon (三島財閥).

Mishima

Jin's altered logo in Tekken 6.

During Tekken 6, Jin Kazama altered the logo of the Zaibatsu, modelling it after the devil curse mark, that was branded into his arm when he was fifteen, something both personal to him and representative of his own hatred of what has become of himself. At this time, all Tekken Force armor was rebranded with the Zaibatsu devil mark.

Heihachi Mishima reverted to using the historic mon of the Zaibatsu when he retook his company in Tekken 7.

The Zaibatsu has its own seal with which it stamps official letters (a red square enclosing the corporation's name in kanji).[7] Separate wings of the Zaibatsu, such as Mishima Industries, have their own logo and branding.

Structure[]

Mishima Zaibatsu Headquarters[]

Zaibatsu HQ tk7

Mishima Zaibatsu Headquarters

The Mishima Zaibatsu Headquarters are in Tokyo, Japan,[8] not far from G Corporation's Millennium Tower. The Zaibatsu HQ consists of a complex of tall glass towers, accessed by vertical glass elevator shafts. Some of these elevator shafts are mechanically dragged upwards by large Mishima Industries robots. The Mishima Zaibatsu logo is lit up blue on the front of the largest building. Beneath the HQ is an underground railway network used for cargo and heavy industry. The Zaibatsu HQ has a central control room with a large electronic map which can be manipulated, a task which Tekken Force members undertake. The map has a holographic interface, from which security cameras can be viewed, global news broadcasted, and satellites can be controlled, including the Mishima Zaibatsu's Orbital Laser Satellite. As well as a highly modern look, the Zaibatsu also has a theme of medieval Gothic architecture. It has an enormous throne room, with columns, rafters, a dais, and a tall gold throne.[9] Additionally, the top of at least one of its towers is a stone and marble room with gargoyles, wrought iron railings, blue lit chandeliers, and Gothic-style stained glass windows.

There are hidden vaults beneath the Mishima Zaibatsu Headquarters. These contain various treasures and artefacts stolen from around the world. The vault was raided in Tekken 4 by Bryan Fury and the Manji Clan.[10] Bryan was found injured here and Yoshimitsu helped him escape. The vaults were also raided by Feng Wei in Tekken 6 as he retrieved the God Fist (Shinken) Scrolls Heihachi had stolen from his martial arts school.[11] The vault is also known the contain an epitaph containing a text about Ogre, that was retrieved during a Tekken Force raid on Ogre's Temple in Mexico before the events of Tekken 3 (when Jin was 14 years old).[12]

Other Facilities[]

Although the Mishima Zaibatsu was originally set up in Japan, it has branches and laboratories across the globe. As far back as fifty years before Tekken 7, the Zaibatsu already had major influence in the United States of America, for example. The Zaibatsu holds significant sway over global media, and has the power to directly broadcast to global television stations from its HQ, as shown a number of times in Tekken 7. Other facilities it has include:

  • Laboratories: Biotech Research Station, Mishima Industries Manufacturing Buildings
    • Bosconovitch Laboratory: a secret lab situated deep in a forest. It is responsible for producing all high-tech weapons research for the Mishima Zaibatsu during the time of Tekken 6; Alisa Bosconovitch was created in its basement.[13] It is protected by Jin Kazama's personal secret service, who do not answer to regular Tekken Force hierarchy. The laboratory has its signage in English and has a number of different wings to it. According to the opening of Tekken 6 it houses biochemical, medical, genetic, robotic, and cybernetic research.
  • Military Bases: Tekken Force Compound
  • Iron Fist Tournament Arenas: Arena in Tekken 4, Arena in Tekken 7
  • Various space colonies orbiting Earth[14]

Subsidiaries[]

See also Mishima Zaibatsu Subsidiaries

The Mishima Zaibatsu is a vast conglomerate encompassing many subsidiary companies and organizations. Notable subsidiaries are:

  • Mishima Industries: An industrial wing of the Mishima Zaibatsu, primarily specializing in weaponry, robotics and other heavy engineering. It has also been responsible for some genetic engineering experiments.
  • Tekken Force: The paramilitary force of the Mishima Zaibatsu, organized as a private army for the purpose of spreading the Mishima Zaibatsu's influence across the globe. A coup within Tekken Force led to nearly half of its members splitting to form the rebel army, Yggdrasil. At the start of the war that Jin begun, prior to the events of Tekken 6, Tekken Force had an estimated 60,000 soldiers.[15]
  • Mishima Polytechnical School: A school set up and funded by the Mishima Zaibatsu, also used to covertly train Tekken Force members.

Research and Experiments[]

See also Mishima Zaibatsu Research Projects and Mishima Zaibatsu Experiments

The Mishima Zaibatsu is an enormous business conglomerate, with research interests in many areas. Originally its focus was more arms orientated. Under Kazuya it expanded into genetics. Genetic experimentation was further expanded on by Heihachi after Tekken 2, as well as an increase in military output. Under Jin's leadership, robotics is the most noticeable expanding branch of the Zaibatsu.

Personnel[]

Ownership[]

The Mishima Zaibatsu has always been run by a direct descendent of Jinpachi Mishima. The constant change of ownership of the Mishima Zaibatsu is one of the Tekken series' many novelties. To date, there have been four different owners:

  • Tekken 2: 2 years later, Kazuya loses the Zaibatsu back to his father Heihachi.
  • Tekken 3 and Tekken 4: 21 years later, Heihachi remains as the owner.
  • Between Tekken 4 and Tekken 5: Jinpachi reclaims the Zaibatsu after Heihachi's disappearance.
  • Tekken 5: Jinpachi loses the Zaibatsu to his great-grandson, Jin Kazama.
  • Tekken 6: Jin remains as the owner.
  • Tekken 7: Heihachi reclaims the Zaibatsu after Jin's disappearance.
  • Tekken 8: An unnamed group took control after Heihachi's disappearance.

Members[]

Tekken Members[]

Tekken 2 Members[]

Tekken 3 Members[]

  • Heihachi Mishima - Head of the Mishima Zaibatsu
  • Emma Kliesen - geneticist (for an unspecified amount of time after TK2)
  • Kuma II - Pet/bodyguard
  • Jin Kazama - attended business trips with Heihachi
  • Steve Fox - test subject; created by the Zaibatsu
  • Nina Williams - test subject

Tekken 4 Members[]

  • Heihachi Mishima - Head of the Mishima Zaibatsu
  • Dr. Abel - Scientific advisor

Tekken 5 Members[]

Tekken 6 Members[]

Tekken 7 Members[]

  • Heihachi Mishima - Head of the Mishima Zaibatsu
  • Kuma II - Tekken Force officer
  • Nina Williams - Head of Tekken Force, later dismissed by Heihachi

Tekken: The Motion Picture Employees (non-canon)[]

  • Heihachi Mishima - Head of the Mishima Zaibatsu
  • Lee Chaolan - Co-leader
  • Ganryu
  • Anna Williams
  • Bruce Irvin
  • Prototype Jack
  • Alex

Tekken: Blood Vengeance Employees (non-canon)[]

  • Jin Kazama - Head of the Mishima Zaibatsu
  • Nina Williams
  • Alisa Bosconovitch

Tekken: Bloodline Employees (non-canon)[]

  • Heihachi Mishima - Head of the Mishima Zaibatsu
  • Ganryu
  • Akiko Miura
  • Dr. Bosconovitch

Corporate Relations[]

  • G Corporation - Rival company and enemy of the Mishima Zaibatsu. Their rivalry started when Heihachi Mishima used the Tekken Force to raid G Corporation research facilities in order to recover Kazuya Mishima's body before Tekken 4. G Corp then later sent an army of self-destructing Jack-4s to attack Kazuya and Heihachi after the King of Iron Fist Tournament 4. This attack succeeded partly in that Heihachi was thrown into a coma, but he ultimately survived. Later, in Tekken 6, G Corporation openly opposed the Mishima Zaibatsu and are heralded as saviours for declaring war against them. G Corp and the Zaibatsu have been at war with one another since shortly before Tekken 6. By Tekken 8, the continuous shifting of leadership and the disappearance of Heihachi allowed G Corporation to overthrow the Zaibatsu.
  • Rochefort Enterprises - One of their trading partners. The Mishima Zaibatsu took over their oil fields by force in Tekken 6.
  • Manji Clan - The clan robbed the Zaibatsu's vault during Tekken 4.
  • Yggdrasil - Lars's rebel army, formed when a major split occured within Tekken Force, prior to the events of Tekken 6. Their main aim is to hold the Zaibatsu and Jin Kazama accountable for their war crimes. They attacked several Zaibatsu buildings and later, in Tekken 7, were the recipient of Zaibatsu attacks when Heihachi ordered Tekken Force to retrieve Jin's body from their facilities.
  • Violet Systems - Lee’s company and the backer of Yggdrasil. Thus, one of the companies who opposes the Zaibatsu. Lee states that he has been backing many who fight the Mishima Zaibatsu.
  • Soviet Union/Russia - Before Tekken, the Soviet military developed the first Jack robots, with a large part of their programming having been done by the Zaibatsu. Many years later, Russia, along with the rest of the world, fell into disarray as a result of the civil unrest caused by the Zaibatsu's covert operations. The Russian government sends a Special Ops soldier to the sixth tournament to stop the disturbances.
  • Archers of Sirius - The Archers of Sirius reluctantly formed an alliance with Heihachi's Zaibatsu after he beat their leader, Claudio Serafino. Heihachi initially implied that he wished to work with them in order to exorcise Kazuya and Jin of their devils, but it later transpired he only wished to use the Archers for their information network.
  • The Resistance - An armed civilian insurgency formed to take down the Mishima Zaibatsu, led by Hwoarang, Baek Doo San, and Miguel Caballero Rojo
  • Japan - The Zaibatsu's headquarters are located in Japan and its owners have also all been Japanese. However, the Japanese government denies the nationality of the man who financially built up and has been with the company the longest (Heihachi), while two other CEOs have declared independence from Japan entirely (Kazuya and Jin).
  • The United Nations - The UN had sent operatives to monitor the Zaibatsu at least as far back as Tekken 4. According to a newspaper headline in the Scenario Campaign prologue, the Zaibatsu later took over the UN entirely in Tekken 6. However, in Tekken 6 and Tekken 7, UN troops are still seen working against and trying to apprehend CEO Jin Kazama for his crimes against the world.
  • The Syndicate - the mafia organization known as The Syndicate gained access to top secret files on the Mishima Zaibatsu's human experimentation program. The Zaibatsu also sought to utilize the Syndicate's assassination attempt on Steve Fox in order to cover up their past operations.
  • Poland - Whilst Heihachi was the head of the Mishima Zaibatsu in Tekken 7, his Tekken Force occupied Poland. Prime Minister Lidia Sobieska has requested the Zaibatsu withdraw their forces, but the Zaibatsu has refused.
  • Interpol - The International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO) have been sending detectives to investigate the Zaibatsu since as far back as Tekken 2. They desire to bring to light the Zaibatsu's illegal activities. They became less interested in the Zaibatsu's affairs once Heihachi regained power, but stepped in again when they could not ignore Jin Kazama's behaviour as CEO. Jin is on the Interpol most-wanted list.
  • Organized Crime - The Mishima Zaibatsu has known close ties to global Mafia groups, including Hong Kong Triads and Japanese Yakuza.[16]
  • Shadaloo - (non-canon) Their enemy and rival organization in Street Fighter X Tekken (alternate continuity that is a part of the ‘’Namco X Capcom’’ series).

Stages related to Mishima Zaibatsu[]

Gallery[]

Mishima Zaibatsu/Gallery

Trivia[]

  • In English, the company is sometimes (mainly in Tekken 3) referred to as the Mishima Financial Empire (MFE) instead.
  • The Japanese term 'Zaibatsu' (財閥) refers to "industrial and financial vertically integrated business conglomerates", which rose to prominance particularly in Japan during the first half of the 20th Century. They held significant economic and political control in Japan. They had a family-owned company at the top, a bank and many subsidiaries and other companies beneath them.[17]
  • It is hinted that King and his teacher were politically against the Zaibatsu, as King wears a shirt in Tekken 3 with "Mishima Industries (are) EVIL" written on the back.
  • All current and former owners of the Zaibatsu are related by blood, meaning that only descendants of Jinpachi have been able to win the King of Iron Fist Tournament thus far.
  • There seems to be a corrupting element to the ownership of Mishima Zaibatsu throughout Tekken media. With the exception of Jinpachi, each succeeding owner of the company has started out studying supernatural beings and has since gradually become twisted and power-hungry.
  • There are other characters involved with the Mishima Zaibatsu besides the Mishima Clan. Ganryu worked as a bodyguard for it when both Heihachi and Kazuya were in control. Anna Williams and Bruce Irvin also worked as bodyguards in the Mishima Zaibatsu for Kazuya before later siding with him and his G Corporation. Nina Williams and Eddy Gordo were handpicked by Jin when he took over the company.
  • According to Harada, Heihachi built up the Mishima Zaibatsu financially (as stated above) and this is the reason why Jinpachi was riding in a taxi to get to the King of Iron Fist Tournament (as seen in the Tekken Tag Tournament 2 console opening). Jinpachi never had the financial resources in the first place.[18]
  • It is likely that Kazuya also worked for the Mishima Zaibatsu under Heihachi in the first Tekken, since he was being taught advanced Mishima Karate by Heihachi at this time, and also has extensive knowledge of business prior to taking over the Zaibatsu in Tekken 2.
  • Lars Alexandersson joined the Zaibatsu at some point under Heihachi's leadership, since the main aim of him joining was to find out more about his father.
  • Leroy Smith blames Heihachi for the violence that the Mishima Zaibatsu did to his family in New York 50 years ago, even though Jinpachi was head of the Zaibatsu at this time. It is likely therefore that Heihachi had significant power in the Zaibatsu under his father's leadership and that he may have used this power to terrorize others and cause violence, despite Jinpachi's pacifist intentions for the company at this time.
    • In a later biography Leroy's information was updated to the more ambiguous 'about half a century ago', meaning the attack on New York could have happened shortly after Heihachi took over the Zaibatsu.
  • Under Jin's leadership, the Zaibatsu logo was changed to match the devil brand on Jin's arm. Whilst the logo is more personal to Jin, it is also much hated by him as a symbol of his devil side. As such, it may reveal his contempt for the Mishima Zaibatsu, and the necessary evil he feels it represents, much like the way he uses his devil side to attack worse evils.
  • The Zaibatsu's logo can be found on Kuma II's salmon in Tekken 8. Additionally, when Kuma performs his Rage Art, the logo will be more visible.
  • An underground cargo railway network runs beneath the Mishima Zaibatsu's Central Tower. It was built by Heihachi Mishima.[19]
  • On the Shinjuku stage, there is a convenience store named "Mishimaya". Mishima may refer to the Zaibatsu or the Mishima family in general, while the suffix "-ya" can mean "shop".
  • In Twilight Conflict, there is a van in the stage's lower floor belonging to "Mishima Pizza". This could indicate that the corporation has food retail outlets, though it may simply be an intependent seller honoring the globally famous Mishima name.
  • In Nina's Tekken 6 ending a lobby area to the Mishima Zaibatsu can be seen, with similar decor to the Mishima Zaibatsu throne room in Jin's Tekken 5 ending. The lobby features a central fountain with a statue, a patterned stone floor, pillars, and red carpetting up its staircases.
  • In the non-canon Street Fighter X Tekken, The Mishima Zaibatsu (under Jin) is at war with Shadaloo from the Street Fighter series in a battle to gain Pandora's box.
    • In said game, the Mishima Zaibatsu has a different logo that became part of the Tekken series in Tekken 7.
  • In the non-canon Titan Comics, The Mishima Zaibatsu has a base that is hidden from the world in the jungle that holds many supernatural elements such as Angel and Cloning technology that was requested by Heihachi himself.
  • In Street Fighter X Tekken, and the Project X Zone, it is implied that if Ingrid’s power were to fall into the hands of the enemies of the Mishima Zaibatsu, she could pose a major threat to their operations, and possibly even Jin in his Devil form.

See Also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jinpachi founded the company some time in the early 20th century, and it expanded rapidly during WW2
  2. ^ Mishima Financial Group was the translation used in the older English manuals of the games. Mishima Zaibatsu is now more often left untranslated.
  3. ^ Tekken 7 Story Mode, Chapter 4
  4. ^ Leroy Smith's Tekken 8 Official English Website Profile.
  5. ^ Kuma's Tekken 8 Profile.
  6. ^ A similar mon is used by the real life company Mitsubishi for the same reason: [1].
  7. ^ The Zaibatsu seal can be seen in the addressed letter which Lidia received from Heihachi.
  8. ^ See for example, the addressed letter Heihachi Mishima sends Lidia Sobieska from Zaibatsu HQ.
  9. ^ See Jin Kazama's Tekken 5 ending.
  10. ^ Yoshimitsu#Tekken 5
  11. ^ Feng Wei#Tekken 5
  12. ^ Lars Alexandersson/Scenario Campaign Dialogues#Cutscene 15: Like Father, Like Sons
  13. ^ See Alisa Bosconovitch's Tekken 6 PSP prologue
  14. ^ See Jin Kazama's Tekken 6 prologue.
  15. ^ Yggdrasil split from Tekken Force, taking about half of Tekken Force's members with them (See Lars Alexandersson/Scenario Campaign Dialogues#Tekken 6 Prologue). Yggdrasil's total forces were numbered at around 30,000, putting a full strength Tekken Force prior to the coup at 60,000 troops (See Lars Alexandersson/Scenario Campaign Dialogues#Cutscene 14: Under Surveillance).
  16. ^ See for example Lei Wulong's Tekken 2 profiles.
  17. ^ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaibatsu
  18. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXxRi37mWQ0
  19. ^ See Heihachi's Scenario Campaign Dialogues.
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