Kuma (クマ? ; literally meaning "Bear") is the name of two characters within the Tekken series, both of which were bears, bodyguards to Heihachi Mishima as well as father and son towards each other.
Introduction
Kuma I was introduced in Tekken. He also appeared in Tekken 2.
Kuma II was first introduced in Tekken 3, and returned for all subsequent games. He replaced Kuma I, his father, which died of old age just after the second tournament. Just like his father, the second Kuma is Heihachi Mishima's pet and bodyguard. Kuma is in love with Panda, but she neither feels the same nor has any interest in him. It is noted that although she does not love him, she does occasionally give him a thought.
Story
Tekken
Kuma I was once an abandoned cub in the forests of the Mishima estate. Heihachi Mishima found Kuma I and took him in as his pet. When Kuma I reached adulthood, Heihachi built him an outhouse to cater for his impressively large frame. Heihachi taught the bear simple commands and hand signals, which Kuma I picked up at an alarming speed. Kuma I was even taught rudimentary Japanese. After two years, Heihachi realized the power contained in Kuma I, and so he trained Kuma I in the arts of Kuma Shinken.
Tekken 2
None of Heihachi's associates could understand why Kuma was so intelligent, which led to a lot of them fleeing the estate in fear of the bear's intellect. This was further reinforced by Kuma's penchant for the taste of human flesh. Despite Kuma's unflinching loyalty to his master, Kuma liked to leave the side of Heihachi to sleep, even during the summer. This lazy approach means that Kuma's fighting style has never really matured and is very disjointed. This was demonstrated in the previous The King of Iron Fist Tournament, where Kuma was easily defeated by Paul Phoenix.
Kuma was very impressed with Paul's fighting prowess, as he thought that the only strong human was Heihachi. Heihachi was defeated in the last tournament by Kazuya Mishima, and so the two retreated into a mountain dojo to re-train. Kuma traveled to the second tournament with his master, vowing to destroy Paul Phoenix this time. If anyone gets in his way, he would eat them.
Ending Description, "Paul Killer": Heihachi is aiding Kuma with his training. Kuma breaks several glass blocks with his paw. Heihachi throws another glass block into the air which Kuma breaks with a head butt. Kuma then breaks a brick wall (with a drawing of Paul on it) with another head butt. This ending is similar to Paul's Tekken ending.
Tekken 3
The first Kuma died of old age during his travels with Heihachi. his child, also named Kuma, became Heihachi's second pet.
This Kuma is smarter than his father, and a good bodyguard for Heihachi. One day, when it was absorbed in watching TV, he suddenly went wild at the sight of a martial artist with a scarlet go-gi. It was Paul Phoenix!
Kuma II has trained since that day to defeat Paul in battle. It doesn't think anything of Ogre, who is the God of Fighting; only of defeating Paul.
Kuma is secretly in love with Ling Xiaoyu's pet Panda, who is aptly named Panda.
Ending Description, "Honey...":
Tekken 3 Kuma Panda - Honey
Kuma is waiting outside of the gate of Mishima Polytechnical School. Ling Xiaoyu and Panda are leaving the building. As they walk out of the gate, Kuma kneels on one knee offering Panda a bouquet of flowers; Panda, however, has not noticed and continues to walk past him with Xiaoyu. Kuma continues to stand there in the same position, even until the gate in front of the school closes.
Tekken 4
After losing to Paul Phoenix in the last Tournament, Kuma realized that he had lost touch with his animal roots. As long as he was Heihachi's pet, he would be unable to harness the power of his natural instincts, no matter how much he trained. Determined to revive his wild instincts, Kuma trained by himself in the mountains of Hokkaido (a northern island of Japan).
Life in the wilderness was more brutal than any training Kuma went through with Heihachi. Despite this, Kuma continued his harsh regimen because he burned with the desire to defeat Paul. His efforts paid off- his skills improved dramatically to the point where he developed his own attacks.
One thing Kuma could not get rid of, however, was his habit for watching television. He went down to the village every so often to watch TV through the windows of the villagers' houses, much to the surprise of the villagers.
After waking from hibernation during his second year of training, Kuma went down to the village as usual to watch some TV. When he looked through the window of one house, he saw a commercial announcing The King of Iron Fist Tournament 4. Kuma's instincts raged for battle, and he headed for the tournament site.
Paul would be at the Tournament without a doubt, and Kuma was determined to defeat him.
Tekken 4 Kuma ending
Ending Description: After defeating Paul and winning the Tournament, Kuma set his sight on a new goal. "Grrr... I'm gonna try my paw at corporate management!".
Kuma has won the Tournament and the Mishima Zaibatsu. During a ceremony, Kuma is signing documents (by placing his paw print on it) that will officially hand the Zaibatsu to him (the documents have pictures of Heihachi's head with an arrow pointing to Kuma's head). Kuma starts dancing as he places his paw on the documents until he reaches the last paper, which is just the opposite of all the others. When Kuma reaches it, Heihachi starts to smile, as this means that Heihachi will get the Zaibatsu back from Kuma. Kuma, realizing this, places his paw print on Heihachi's face rather than on the document, thus outsmarting Heihachi.
Tekken 5
Kuma finally defeated Paul in the King of Iron Fist Tournament 4. However, his master Heihachi was dead. Kuma was alone without Heihachi.
Then he realized the Mishima Zaibatsu was in trouble he knew what he must do Grr! ("I'll save the Zaibatsu!").
When Kuma reached headquarters, he heard someone was taken control and announced the King of Iron Fist Tournament 5. Kuma vows revenge to save the Zaibatsu for his master and enters the tournament.
Tekken 5 Ending
Ending Description: Kuma is reading something on a piece of paper. After he finishes reading it, he places his paw print on it. Suddenly, Lee Chaolan runs into the room and says that Heihachi Mishima wishes to see him. Lee asks Kuma how he would like to proceed. Kuma replies, "Bring him here". Lee allows Heihachi to enter the room. Heihachi enters the room and congratulates him for protecting the Mishima Zaibatsu for him. A couple of seconds later, a closeup of Kuma's eyes is shown. Kuma presses a circular red button on his desk.
A trapdoor opens underneath Heihachi, and Heihachi falls down into the hole. Lee gives Kuma a "thumbs-up" gesture with one of his hands. Then, one of Kuma's servants offers him a fish. Kuma opens his mouth to eat the fish, but before Kuma can eat the fish, Heihachi manages to climb back up the hole and press a triangular blue button that is right next to the circular red button, sending Kuma, his chair, and his fish into the hole. Heihachi begins to climb out of the hole, saying, "Damn Kuma and his worthless hide... As long as there's a breath left in my body, I won't let you do as you please!". Lee gives Heihachi Mishima a "thumbs-up" gesture with one of his hands.
Kuma's storyline is unchanged between Tekken 5 and Dark Resurrection.
Tekken 6
After the supposed death of his former master, Heihachi Mishima, Kuma believed no one but he could rescue the Mishima Financial Group (MFG) from its captor. Eager to do just that, Kuma confronted the MFG.
However, the MFG's new CEO, Jin Kazama, was waiting.
Kuma was easily beaten and discarded in the Hokkaido wilderness. Though defeated, his fighting spirit was not lost.
He then starts training for The King of Iron Fist Tournament 6 in hopes of becoming the rightful owner of the MFG.
Ending Description:
Tekken 6 - Kuma ending
T6 Ending
The ending is similar to Heihachi's with several changes. Kuma has tied up Jin and Kazuya in a rocket. He throws Jin out of the rocket first and then Kazuya. As they drift towards Earth, Kuma starts to cheer while moving his hands up and down unknowingly putting a hole in his spacesuit with his paw, causing him to fly into outer space along behind Jin and Kazuya. The trio catch on fire as the impact of gravity plunges them into Earth while they turn into shooting stars. Ganryu is then seen watching them and wishes for Julia Chang.
Kuma's storyline is unchanged between Tekken 6 and Bloodline Rebellion.
Other appearances
Tekken Tag Tournament
Kuma appeared as a playable character in Tekken Tag Tournament.
Ending Description: Heihachi Mishima sits on the ground and claps his hands together while Kuma dances. The ending takes place in Jin's second stage.
Tekken Tag Special Alliance Partners
Street Fighter X Tekken
Kuma appeared as a playable character in Street Fighter X Tekken, his tag partner is Heihachi. Their rivals are M. Bison and Juri Han.
Tekken Tag Tournament 2
Kuma is a playable character in Tekken Tag Tournament 2.
Ending Description: Three high school girls (two wearing the Mishima High uniform, one wearing the same uniform as Asuka) are having a picture taken with Kuma. They mistook Kuma for a mascot, until the next shot. Later, he spotted Xiaoyu, Miharu, Alisa and Panda. Then Kuma drooled at the girl on his left (the one with Asuka's uniform), then all three ran away frightened. When he found Panda, he quickly sprinted, but Panda was not fooled. Panda used an uppercut on Kuma, who then fainted. The four then continued to walk away casually. Ironically, a man wearing a Panda costume came to check if he was okay. Kuma thinks he is Panda. It is unknown what Kuma did to him, though it can be assumed that Kuma attacked or hugged him.
Special Alliance Partners:
- Panda
- Roger Jr.
- Alex
- Heihachi Mishima
- Paul Phoenix
- Armor King
- Kazuya Mishima / Devil
- Jinpachi Mishima
- Devil Jin
- Angel
- Jun Kazama
- Unknown
- Asuka Kazama
- Ling Xiaoyu
- Miharu Hirano
Tekken Revolution
Kuma appears in Tekken Revolution as one of the playable characters.
Character Relationships
Kuma I's character relationships are as follow:
- Heihachi Mishima - His master and friend.
- Kuma II - His son.
- Paul Phoenix - His rival.
Kuma II's character relationships are as follow:
- Heihachi Mishima - His master and friend.
- Kuma I - His father.
- Paul Phoenix - His rival.
- Panda - Kuma's secret crush (although through the series it becomes more apparent that Panda has no interest in him in that way).
- Jin Kazama - Banished to the Hokkaido wilderness by him before the events of Tekken 6. Kuma's goal to defeat Jin is the reason he enters the sixth tournament. The reason why Jin banish Kuma far away in Hokkaido wilderness, is to keep him safe since Jin dislike of having many animals in danger.
Gameplay
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Fighting style
Kuma fights using an "original" fighting style called Kuma Shinken.
In the earlier games, Kuma Shinken took many elements from the Jack models' fighting style. However, in later games, the art started to gain some originality with unique strikes and even a "hunting" mode which puts Kuma on all fours for more attacks.
Trivia
General:
- The name "Kuma" means "bear" in Japanese (in kanji it is 熊).
- Roger is possibly friends with Kuma. In Tekken Tag Tournament, when partnered with Roger before the start of the fight, they will dance in unison.
- Kuma is unlocked by beating the game once.
- Kuma's bosses in the Tekken Force side game are (in order of appearance) Panda, Ling Xiaoyu, Paul Phoenix, and Heihachi Mishima.
- If teamed with Heihachi Mishima, Kuma and Panda will be able to perform Heihachi's Demon Bear move.
- This was the first game that Kuma had white fur as his Player Two outfit; however, he gains white fur again in Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection.
- Kuma II becomes playable by beating the game seven times, or as soon as the player complete Story Mode with Ling Xiaoyu.
- In the Tekken Force side game, Kuma (or Panda) is the boss for the second stage, the "Jungle" stage.
Tekken 5 and Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection:
- Kuma is unlocked by beating story mode 6 times with different characters.
- Kuma's sub-bosses are Ling Xiaoyu and Paul Phoenix.
Tekken 6 and Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion:
- Kuma's "Item Move" feature is the ability to strike his opponent with a fish, which stays attached to his back until he uses it.
- In the Scenario Campaign mode, Kuma is a boss at the North Nature Park.
- His ending is the fourth scene from connected endings between Asuka, Lili, Miharu, Panda, Alisa, and Xiaoyu. He is also the only male fighter involved in these endings (not counting Sebastian as his ending is not connected but he appeared in Lili's ending).
Other:
- Kuma made a cameo in The Motion Picture in a tree.
- Kuma's rivals in Tekken Card Challenge are Heihachi Mishima, Paul Phoenix and Panda.
- Kuma is referred to as the "Raging Beast" on the official Street Fighter X Tekken site. In said game, Zangief's Swap Costume is based on Kuma's design.
- In Tekken: Blood Vengeance, a picture of Kuma is seen in the principal's office of Mishima Polytechnic.
- Kuma makes a few cameo appearances in 'Hyperdimension Neptunia: Victory' With the DLC character named "Tekken".