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Thanks to his striking good looks, captivating appearance, and versatile acting talent, Arata Mackenyu has steadily become one of the standout stars chosen for numerous live-action adaptations. Currently, his most prominent role is as the swordsman Roronoa Zoro in One Piece.
As the first member recruited into the Straw Hat Pirates crew, according to the original story, Roronoa Zoro becomes the indispensable right-hand man and trustworthy comrade of Captain Luffy. Zoro is the only member of the crew who wields a sword in combat and dreams of becoming the world's greatest swordsman. Later on, Zoro unveils staggering strength, ranking among the 12 Worst Generation members alongside Luffy.
As the first member recruited into the Straw Hat Pirates crew, according to the original story, Roronoa Zoro becomes the indispensable right-hand man and trustworthy comrade of Captain Luffy. Zoro is the only member of the crew who wields a sword in combat and dreams of becoming the world's greatest swordsman. Later on, Zoro unveils staggering strength, ranking among the 12 Worst Generation members alongside Luffy.
'I relate to Zoro, perhaps that's what helped me land this role' - Mackenyu gets straight to the point when asked why he got the role of Roronoa Zoro. In the 8 One Piece episodes, the actor has numerous scenes showcasing sword fighting techniques. This aligns perfectly with Mackenyu's expertise, as the actor has had many encounters with swords in his past roles. However, fighting with three swords simultaneously demands extensive training.
'I have experience wielding two swords simultaneously and have previously starred in live-action adaptations involving swords, but when it comes to three swords, it's a different story. The training process for One Piece specifically tailored to Zoro, learning the necessary skills to truly embody him. My skills have been honed for this role' – Mackenyu responds in an interview with GamesRadar.
According to GamesRadar, the actor's jaw had to be adjusted difficulty when wielding a sword. It seems the producers used special effects, but Mackenyu still had to hold the sword blade in his mouth.
The battle scene between Zoro and Dracule Mihawk – the greatest swordsman in the Seven Warlords - left a lasting impression on Mackenyu. 'We filmed that scene when it was cold and damp, so it was a challenging scene for me,' he said.
Arata Mackenyu is no stranger to live-action adaptations of anime and manga. Born in 1996, the actor possesses a handsome, masculine face, a muscular physique, and has been involved in artistic activities since childhood. Born and raised in the United States, Mackenyu is fluent in both English and Japanese. Being fluent in international languages helps the actor have more opportunities to increase recognition and step into the Hollywood film industry.
He is also known as the son of the late legendary action star Sonny Chiba, famous for Vietnamese audiences through the role of Hùng Bá in the movie Storm Warriors - Dragon Tiger Fight.
His real name is Maeda Mackenyu, the actor dropped the surname Maeda and adopted the stage name Arata to avoid being associated with his talented father's reputation. Mackenyu learned martial arts from his father since childhood, laying the foundation for him to easily portray action roles later on. In addition, the actor also spends time snowboarding, horseback riding, playing musical instruments, and can sing.
Dubbed as Japan's national beauty treasure, he was ranked first by Goo Ranking as the most beautiful male celebrity in Japan in 2019, being the only male artist to enter the top 10 most popular photobooks of the year. While his appearance is highly praised, it doesn't mean Mackenyu is seen as a 'pretty flower.' The actor challenges himself with a variety of images, from school heartthrob to skilled warrior or cold-blooded assassin. Some of the films he has participated in include: Take a Chance, Fullmetal Alchemist live action part 2-3, Chihayafuru, Over Drive, Todome no Kiss, Brave: Gunjou Senki, Peach girl…
