After all, Sakurai was a regular sight at Bandai Namco, which played a large role in developing Super Smash Bros. Towards the end of Smash Bros’ development, Harada and Sakurai worked together on adding Kazuya Mishima as a Smash Bros. DLC character.
Tekken’s Katsuhiro Harada is no stranger to Super Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai.
Tekken 8 is ultimately a very different game from Super Smash Bros., but the two do share at least one major similarity: an embrace of guest characters, which Harada has characterized as a positive experience.
Harada says that the experience left him feeling as if Sakurai was the only one qualified to make Super Smash Bros. — a sentiment that Sakurai himself has shared at points despite concerns for his health amid a grueling schedule.