Meet Mackenyu, the Japanese-American actor who has been making waves throughout the globe with his portrayal of Roronoa Zoro on Netflix’s One Piece
Over the weekend, One Piece ignited the world with its presence, and at the core of this raging phenomenon is Mackenyu’s depiction of Roronoa Zoro, one of the most beloved icons from the anime. His portrayal of the character was so spot-on that fans couldn’t help but express their appreciation. Here’s a rundown of five interesting tidbits about Mackenyu, the man in charge of those lethal three-bladed weapons.
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He is Sonny Chiba’s son
When it comes to the field of action stars, one cannot help but wonder if prowess runs in the blood. For instance, Mackenyu’s lineage can be traced back to none other than the legendary actor and martial artist, Sonny Chiba. Sonny emerged as one of the pioneering stars to captivate audiences worldwide with his mastery of martial arts. His skills not only garnered him a massive fan base in Japan, but also propelled him to international stardom. Mackenyu’s father has dominated the silver screen, leaving his mark on more than 120 cinematic masterpieces.
He played the lead in his first two films at 16
The talented actor had his inaugural starring roles in two film productions, namely Take a Chance and Tadaima. The latter, a critically acclaimed short film, portrays the tale of a resilient Japanese family grappling with the harrowing aftermath of World War II. Notably, this remarkable performance earned him the prestigious accolade of Best Supporting Actor at the 2015 Asians On Film Festival.
He appeared in various live-action anime movies
Prior to his role in One Piece, Mackenyu had already proven his acting chops in a number of successful anime adaptations. Since then, he’s played roles in other anime-to-film adaptations, such as JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable Chapter I and Tokyo Ghoul S, as well as the villain Yukishiro Enishi in Rurouni Kenshin: The Final and the protagonist Pegasus Seiya in Knights of the Zodiac.
At the age of 8, he began training in Karate
Following in his father’s footsteps, Mackenyu has trained in Kyokushin Karate since he was eight years old. In middle school, he competed in and finished third at the US Kyokushin Karate Nationals. Now, it comes as no shocker to reveal that he also fearlessly performed his own stunts in One Piece.
Music is his passion, too
In addition to his acting prowess, the Japanese-American actor also possesses a passion for music. His love for melodic artistry can be traced all the way back to his formative years, when he began playing piano at the age of 10. When he was in high school, he also played the saxophone and flute in the school’s brass band.
Photos: MACKENYU (via Instagram)
