Takeda Takahashi (高橋武田) is a student of Shirai Ryu leader Hanzo Hasashi and Kenshi's son. He made his first appearance in the MKX comic series.
Takeda made his playable debut in Mortal Kombat X, serving as one of the protagonists in the game's Story Mode.
Takeda with Scorpion outfit as his apprentice
Takeda lived a normal life in Thailand with his mother, Suchin, despite his father not knowing of his existence until he was a child. After his mother was killed by the Red Dragon, he was entrusted to Hanzo when his father left to avenge her death. Although he is taught the ways of a warrior, Takeda originally had a timid nature and didn't take fighting seriously. However, after the newest iteration of the Shirai Ryu are eradicated, he becomes more serious and continues to help his master, both in missions and preventing him from giving in to his wraith persona.
After many years, Takeda completed his training with Scorpion and, at the urging of both his mentor and his father who returned for him, joined a new team formed by the Special Forces dedicated to protecting Earthrealm. Consisting of a new generation of heroes, Takeda developed a great friendship with all in his team and is often the one who stops arguments from erupting between them, such as with Cassie Cage and Kung Jin. Takeda is also in a romantic relationship with Jacqui Briggs. He ultimately proves his heroism and bravery when he confronts all the revenants (along with Jacqui) at the Sky Temple in order for the rest of his team to stop Shinnok, despite his injuries.
Takeda is shown to take his battles seriously but does make wise cracks during so. He expresses great loyalty to the Shirai Ryu, as he continues to wear a yellow-orange headband to show his connection to the clan and will fight any who threatens his clan. He has even stated that the Shirai Ryu are his family. Despite not trusting Hanzo at first because he was a wraith, Takeda becomes immensely loyal to his master over the years and sees Hanzo as a father-figure. While Kenshi is his biological father, Takeda originally didn't trust him and preferred not to speak about him.
Whilst he doesn’t make a playable appearance in Mortal Kombat 11, Takeda cameos in various tower endings. Additionally, in an intro dialogue between Jacqui and Scorpion, it is revealed that Jacqui and Takeda are engaged.
A new version of Takeda returns in Mortal Kombat 1 as the final character available through DLC as part of the Kombat Pack. In the current timeline, Takeda is no longer Kenshi's son, rather his cousin born in Japan like Kenshi. Additionally, he is a former Yakuza member just like his cousin in this timeline, defecting from the clan to rid Earthrealm of its criminal underworld. An evil version of Takeda appears alongside Jacqui Briggs, Kung Jin and Cassie Cage during the Second Battle of Armageddon on the side of Titan Shang Tsung. However, they are quickly dispatched by Titan Kitana.
Theme songs[]
Ikran's theme(s): No Limit (2 Unlimited) - Kombat Kids Theme
1P Results (Super Smash Bros) - baby Takeda
Rule (Ayumi Hamasaki, from Dragon Ball Evolution) - adult Takeda
Mortal Kombat: Vengeance[]
Takeda was delivered to the Shirai Ryu base in Japan by Fujin.
Recently, Kenshi's family in Thailand was in peril as his family was killed by the Red Dragon, then as he was looking for Shang Tsung, he was blinded by the sorcerer. He pleaded to Hanzo to look after the child via note as he never wanted to leave Takeda in a Thailand nursery as it was too primitive, nor a Chinese one as it'd be too militaristic. When Kenshi joined the Special Forces, he allied with Hanzo and Fujin brought the baby outside the Shirai Ryu Headquarters. To Hanzo, he looked very much like his own son, Satoshi Hasashi, also known by his 'pet' name Jubei. Hanzo was reluctant on meeting his nemesis, Quan Chi, but he offered to help leaving Takeda in the reformed clan's care.
Kenshi reunited with his lost son, Takeda, after the heroes were successful. He was unable to get his sight back, but as long as he had his psychic sword, with his ancestors at rest, and his kid alive and well, he was forever grateful...
Final Kombat[]
Takeda still resided within the Shirai Ryu base, and his father picked up his distant cries; Kenshi led Hanzo to home, and they planned to hold him one more time before they should march onto the inevitable battle of Armageddon. Kenshi could tell Takeda was a fast learner even when he mastered how to read minds and sensing the tension from outside. Kenshi eventually decided to take on the battle, while Hanzo actually decided to stay; Kenshi and Takeda were glad someone was willing to stay behind and keep the infant occupied instead of dealing with the sensitivities alone. Hours later, as he slept, Hanzo left for Shinnok's Amulet.
By the time Armageddon passed, Takeda was his long-awaited jovial self as Hanzo and Kenshi were walking with him in a stroller; they hope for Takeda to grow up and join the OIA and learn his telekinetic skills. Several years later, Takeda grew up and joined the Special Forces as they boarded a Black Hawk en route to Kotal's turf in what used to be Kahn's Arena!
Trivia[]
- In MK11, an interaction between Jacqui and Hanzo revealed that Jacqui and Takeda are engaged.
- Takeda is Japanese-Thai. His father is Japanese, and his mother is Thai American. He was born near Lampang, where he lived with his mother until he was eight years old. Then he was taken to Japan by his father, where he was raised by Hanzo Hasashi in the second timeline.
- Takeda is the son of Kenshi Takahashi and Suchin in the second timeline. In the third timeline, he is Kenshi's cousin and is no longer related to Suchin, despite her still being Kenshi's love interest.
- Takeda is a Japanese locational surname with two kanji readings. The more famous (武田) translates to 'military field' and was used by a famous samurai clan active during the Warring states period. The other (竹田) translates to 'bamboo field' and is also read as Taketa.
- He has been chosen as one of Ikran's Video Game Characters she can Relate to as both he/she happens to try and be problem solvers and mediators. They were both taken in by a parental guardian, but unlike Takeda, it wasn't a guy. They also tend to live with their parents as well.
- Erroneously, she made him born in '95 instead of '97, 2 years before his official birthyear; specifically, during the events of MK: Vengeance before the uprising Red Dragons made their move onto Kenshi and his family. Since then, he was left in Kenshi's care till he worked for the Special Forces, and thus Kenshi needed to find a place for Takeda's care. Fujin then dropped him off at the Shirai Ryu instead.
Gallery[]
