Meet Mackenyu, the green-haired marvel in Netflix’s ‘One Piece’
Photo from Twitter/ONE PIECE(ワンピース) Netflix
Enchanted by the green-haired enigma that is Roronoa Zoro? Well, we don’t blame you, especially if someone like Japanese actor Mackenyu Arata is playing the swordsman in Netflix’s “One Piece” live-action series.
In case you didn’t know, “One Piece” is that epic Japanese manga series by Eiichiro Oda that’s been breaking records since the anime was first released in October 1999. And here’s a fun fact: The Netflix series is the first-ever live-action adaptation of the manga series.
And leading the charge of this adaptation alongside Iñaki Godoy (Luffy)—with a certain sword swagger—is Mackenyu. Even with his boyish good looks, fit physique, and chiseled jaw and cheekbones, Mackenyu managed to maintain Roronoa Zoro’s arrogant and snobbish veneer to perfectly capture the spirit of the character.
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“I have experience using two swords simultaneously and have done live-action shows using swords in the past, but when it comes to three, that’s a different story. The training I did for ‘One Piece’ was specific for Zoro and the skills needed to be him. My jaw had on-the-job training! There is an iconic fight scene between Zoro and Mihawk. I can’t give too much away, but it was cold and wet when we filmed that scene, so it was a tough one for me,” he shared in an interview with Gamesradar.
That said, this 26-year-old proves he’s more than just a pretty face or someone simply flexing his muscles on screen. He is also a musical prodigy who plays the piano, saxophone, and flute.
Mackenyu, who grew up in Los Angeles, is also skilled in gymnastics and karate, which explains his impressive moves in the series. Entertainment also runs in his blood as his father is the late Japanese actor and martial artist Sonny Chiba and his older half-sister, Juri Manase, was Lucy Liu’s stunt double in “Kill Bill.” His younger brother Gordon Maeda is also an actor.
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Mackenyu and his marvelous track record
If you can’t get enough of his face that could probably launch a thousand ships, here are some of his movies to check out:
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure (2017)
Overdrive (2018)
Rurouni Kenshin: The Final (2021)
Fullmetal Alchemist (2022)
Knights of the Zodiac (2023).
And if you’ve been wondering if Mackenyu is married, sorry to burst your bubble, but he is officially off the market. While the identity of his wife remains private, rumors have it that it is Japanese actress and model Natsuki Okamoto.
While the “One Piece” live-action seems to have a long journey to sail, it’s one that is worth waiting for. Until the next time we board with Roronoa Zoro, we’ll just have to stay tuned and check out his other films.
