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Former Tekken Director Katsuhiro Harada Reveals He Totally Misunderstood What Getting Invited To the Cookout Meant After Fans Loved the Leroy Smith Reveal
After the reveal of Leroy Smith in Tekken 7, American fans began inviting Katsuhiro Harada to 'the cookout' as an expression of appreciation for the character. Despite his proficiency in English and decades of international experience, Harada completely misread the phrase. Seeing frequent references to being 'cooked' online around the same time, he interpreted the invitation as veiled criticism or a threat, fearing he had somehow crossed an invisible cultural line and faced hostile backlash disguised as friendliness.
When someone eventually explained the true meaning—that a cookout invitation represents one of the highest compliments possible, signifying trust and acceptance into a close-knit family gathering—Harada felt immediate relief. He later reflected with humour on his misunderstanding, expressing surprise at how much larger American BBQ equipment and ingredients were compared to Japanese standards, and expressing genuine regret that he hadn't accepted an invitation to experience the community gatherings firsthand.
In short
- Game director Harada misinterpreted 'invite to the cookout' as criticism after fans celebrated his Black character Leroy Smith in Tekken 7
- The phrase actually signifies high social acceptance and inclusion in African American culture—an invitation to an intimate family gathering
- Harada later expressed regret at not accepting an invitation and reflected warmly on the cultural misunderstanding
Explained simply
Tekken is a long-running fighting game series made by Bandai Namco, and Katsuhiro Harada led its development for many years. Tekken 7 introduced Leroy Smith, a Black martial artist from New York whose design drew on kung fu films and Black American culture.
In American slang, being invited to “the cookout” suggests that someone is warmly accepted into a community, often pictured as a family barbecue. The phrase can be unfamiliar to people outside the United States, even those who speak English fluently.
The reaction to Leroy’s reveal showed how character design can connect with players through cultural references. Harada’s story also illustrates how slang can be easy to misread when its meaning depends on shared cultural context.