Mackenyu Explained

Mackenyu
Native Name:真剣佑
Native Name Lang:ja
Birth Date:16 November 1996
Birth Place:Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other Names:Mackenyu Arata
Mackenyu Chiba
J.J. MacKenyu
Occupation:Actor
Years Active:2005–present
Agent:Asian Cinema Entertainment
Father:Sonny Chiba
Relatives:Juri Manase (half-sister)
Gordon Maeda (brother)

, known professionally as or simply, is a Japanese actor. He is the son of actor and martial artist Sonny Chiba.[1] [2] Mackenyu rose to fame after portraying Arata Wataya in the Chihayafuru live-action trilogy in 2016, which earned him the 40th Japan Academy Newcomers of the Year Award in 2017.[3] He has since portrayed characters in many other adaptations of popular manga series, including (2017), Tokyo Ghoul S (2019), the villain Yukishiro Enishi in (2021), the protagonist Pegasus Seiya in Knights of the Zodiac and Roronoa Zoro in the Netflix series One Piece (2023).

Early life

Mackenyu Maeda, known as Mackenyu Arata, was born on November 16, 1996, in Los Angeles.[4] [5] He is the son of Japanese parents, Tamami Chiba and Japanese action movie star Sonny Chiba, and has two siblings, a half sister named Juri Manase (his father's daughter from previous marriage) and a brother named Gordon.[1] [6] He attended Beverly Hills High School in their Advanced Placement Program and appeared in a few films and TV shows while growing up, including the TV mini-series Team Astro (Astro Kyūdan) (2005), and the Japanese feature film Oyaji (2007), as he devoted most of his time to school and graduation. As a young child, Mackenyu had many interests. He learned horseback riding and Yabusame at the age of 7. He practiced Kyokushin Karate since he was eight years old, and he was placed third at the US kyokushin Karate Nationals in middle school. In high school he did gymnastics, water polo, and wrestling, becoming the school representative for the latter. He was also into music, playing piano since he was 10 years old, and later participated in the brass band of his high school in Beverly Hills, playing saxophone, and flute.

At the age of 15, Mackenyu watched a Japanese movie and the actor who starred in it inspired him to pursue acting professionally in Japan. He held on to the dream of co-starring with the actor once he established his acting career in Japan. He later revealed that it was the late Haruma Miura after he co-starred with him in the movie adaptation of Gunjō Senki.[7] Mackenyu landed his first feature film lead role in Take a Chance (2015) and was featured in an acclaimed short movie depicting a Japanese family suffering the aftermath of the World War II in Tadaima (2015) in which the movie won The Best Narrative Short in Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival.[8] He moved to Japan later in the same year, stating that Japan would be the best place for him to learn due to the variety of roles that are available for young actors.[9]

Career

In 2013, Mackenyu turned his full attention to acting—including roles in the feature film Buzz (So-On: The Five Oyaji) (2014) and TV movie Yo nimo Kimyō na Monogatari (2014). His acting quickly expanded to include three supporting roles in TV Mini-series including The Kindergarten Detective (Hanasaki Shin'ichirō wa Nemurenai!!) (2015), Yume o Ataeru (2015), and The Hatsumori Bemars (2015). His fame grew dramatically in Japan after landing the role of Eiji Tomari/Kamen Rider Dark Drive/Paradox Roidmude in Kamen Rider Drive: Surprise Future; the film Tie-in to the 2014-2015 Entry in the Kamen franchise, Kamen Rider Drive, based on the popular series created by manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori[10]

In 2015, he also landed his first lead roles in two USA film productions, Take a Chance (2015) and Tadaima (2015); for the latter he won a best supporting actor award at the Asians of Films festival.[11] In January 2016, he made his stage debut in the Japanese musical Boys Over Flower (Hana Yori Dango: The Musical) (2016). He had a prominent role in the two part feature film Chihayafuru Part I & II (2016) which was released back-to-back in March and April 2016.[12] Japan's AM magazine featured him on the front cover of their 14 March 2016 edition and included an interview with him. One of his most challenging roles in his career to date was Shōjo (Little Girl). Having completed his lead role as "Makise" in the feature film Night's Tightrope (Shōjo) (2016), Mackenyu started to expand his acting opportunities in Hollywood with a supporting role of Cadet Ryoichi in the science fiction film (2018).[13] 2018 was a busy year with series Kiss That Kills and movies Chihayafuru Part III, manga-based Impossibility Defense and speed-drive action-drama Over Drive.

In 2019, he was cast as the final villain, Yukishiro Enishi, in the last two movies of the Rurouni Kenshin live-action adaptation.[14]

In December 2020, Mackenyu announced that he would be leaving his agency, Top Coat, in April 2021 as well as suspending his Japanese activities for the time being. He announced that he wants to focus on global activities in 2021.

In 2021, he starred as the lead in the manga adaptation of Brave: Gunjou Senki. He is now in Asian Cinema Entertainment. In November 2021, Mackenyu was cast as Roronoa Zoro in the American Netflix live action series adaptation of One Piece.[15]

In March 2022, he was cast as Scar in the live-action sequel of Fullmetal Alchemist.[16]

Personal life

Mackenyu married a non-celebrity woman, whose name was not disclosed. The marriage was announced along with his younger brother's marriage in January 2023.[17]

Brand endorsements

In 2018, Mackenyu became the brand ambassador for Japanese men's grooming brand GATSBY.[18] He starred in the TV commercial "GATSBY Cop", together with popular Japanese actor Yuya Yagira.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2015TadaimaGeorge[19]
Eiji Tomari[20]
Take a ChanceMasaLead role[21]
2016Chihayafuru Part 1Arata Wataya[22]
Chihayafuru Part 2[23]
Night's TightropeHikaru Makise[24]
BittersweetAtsushi Babazono
2017Let's Go, Jets!Kōsuke Yamashita[25]
Okuyasu Nijimura[26]
Peach GirlKazuya "Tōji" Tōjigamori
2018Cadet Ryoichi
Chihayafuru Part 3Arata Wataya[27]
Over DriveNaozumi HiyamaLead role[28]
Impossibility DefenseAsao Momose
Code Blue: The MovieAkio Kishida
201912 Suicidal TeensShinjirōLead role
Tokyo Ghoul SSōta
NiNoKuniHaru (voice)[29]
2020Minato Hirose[30]
Our 30-Minute SessionsAki MiyataLead role[31]
Tonkatsu DJ AgetarōGuest of VIP roomCameo[32]
2021Brave: Gunjō SenkiAoi NishinoLead role[33]
The Master PlanMakoto[34]
Yukishiro Enishi[35]
2022
Fullmetal Alchemist: The Revenge of Scar Scar[36]
Fullmetal Alchemist: The Final Alchemy
2023Knights of the ZodiacPegasus SeiyaLead role[37]

Television

YearTitleRoleNetworkNotes
2015Yume wo AtaeruMasaakiWowowMiniseries[38]
2016SakurasakuIppeiLead Role, Miniseries[39]
Tomorrow, I'll Surely Love You AgainShoutaFuji TV[40]
Brass DreamsRen KitoraTBS[41]
2017Fugitive BoysIchihashi TetsutoFuji TV[42]
2018Kiss that KillsTakauji NamikiNTV[43]
2019Two Homelands Yu AmadaTV TokyoMiniseries[44]
Our Dearest SakuraAoi Kijima NTV[45]
2020Remote de KorosareruNomura YusakuNTVLead role, Special[46]
2021The End of the Tiny World: Half A Year LaterMakotodTVLead role
Ichikei's Crow: The Criminal Court JudgesBunta IshikuraFuji TV[47]
2023–presentOne PieceRoronoa ZoroNetflixLead role[48]

Awards

Award ceremony! scope="col"
YearNominee/workCategoryResult
Asians On Film Festival2015TadaimaBest Supporting Actor[49]
Hochi Film Award2016ChihayafuruBest New Artist[50]
2018OverdriveBest Supporting Actor[51]
Japan Academy Film Prize2017ChihayafuruNewcomer of the Year[52]
Mainichi Film Awards2017Best New Actor[53]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sonny Chiba: Martial arts master and icon of Japanese cinema . Neate . Casey . September 2, 2021 . . March 9, 2023 . [Sonny Chiba’s] first marriage was to actress Yoko Nogiwa, with whom he had co-starred in the detective series Key Hunter (1969-1973). They had a daughter, the actress Juri Manase, before divorcing in 1994. Chiba is also survived by his sons Mackenyu Arata and Gordon Maeda, who also both pursued careers in acting..
  2. Web site: A Sonny Chiba interview: Acting, martial arts and family - Meniscus Magazine . 2014-08-03 . Meniscus Magazine . en-US. 2016-06-17.
  3. Web site: 第40回日本アカデミー賞優秀賞の最多受賞は「怒り」、「シン・ゴジラ」「64」が続く . 2021-05-01 . 映画ナタリー . ja . April 5, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230405025357/https://natalie.mu/eiga/news/216979 . live .
  4. Book: 千葉真一 . 千葉流 サムライへの道 . 2010-09-20 . 初版 . ぶんか社 . 4821142694 . (第6章 生活の中に武士道をいかに活かすか) . 225–233 . アメリカに移住して再婚、長男と次男が誕生.
  5. Book: 千葉真一 . 千葉真一 改め 和千永倫道 . 2008-05-05 . 初版 . 山と渓谷社 . 4635340228 . (第四章 子供たちよ……!) . 120 . 57歳から第二の子育てスタート!.
  6. Web site: Sonny Chiba obituary . Gilbey . Ryan . August 24, 2021 . . March 9, 2023 . He is survived by his daughter from that marriage, Juri, as well as by Mackenyu and Gordon, his children from his second marriage, to Tatami, which ended in divorce in 2015. . August 24, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210824205423/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/aug/24/sonny-chiba-obituary . live .
  7. Web site: 新田真剣佑、故三浦春馬さんとの共演は「宝」 俳優を志すきっかけの存在 : 映画ニュース . 2021-05-01 . 映画.com . ja . May 1, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210501125625/https://eiga.com/news/20201214/16/ . live .
  8. Web site: 2015 Season . 2023-01-23 . Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival . en-US.
  9. Web site: 真剣佑「自分も2世だとは思ってない」 . September 1, 2021 . December 1, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211201115752/https://www.jprime.jp/articles/-/3475 . live .
  10. Web site: Mackenyu Putra Sonny Chiba Akan Bermain Sebagai Kamen Rider Dark Drive. Itokumag.com Retrieved 2016-6-16 (Google translation)
  11. Web site: Asians on Film Festival (2015) . IMDb.
  12. Web site: Hirose Suzu Stars in "Chihayafuru" Live Action Movie - Japanese Entertainment News . aramajapan.com . 26 June 2015. 2016-06-16.
  13. News: Mackenyu joins Pacific Rim 2! . 2016-10-28 . ARAMA! JAPAN. 2016-11-06.
  14. Web site: Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin 'Final Chapter' Films Cast Mackenyu as Enishi . 2021-05-01 . Anime News Network . en.
  15. Web site: Otterson . Joe . 'One Piece' Netflix Live-Action Series Sets Main Cast . Variety . November 10, 2021 . November 9, 2021 . November 10, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211110001633/https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/one-piece-netflix-live-action-series-cast-1235108332/ . live .
  16. Web site: Fullmetal Alchemist Anime's Leads Narrate Live-Action Sequel Films' Special Trailer . ANN . March 2, 2022 . March 2, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220302140511/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-03-01/fullmetal-alchemist-anime-leads-narrate-live-action-sequel-films-special-trailer/.183157 . live .
  17. Web site: 新田真剣佑と眞栄田郷敦が兄弟W結婚 お相手は一般女性、故・千葉真一さんの誕生日に同時発表 . 2023-01-22 . NEWSポストセブン . ja . January 22, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230122090217/https://www.news-postseven.com/archives/20230122_1834317.html?DETAIL . live .
  18. Web site: GATSBY's Campaign Video & CM Wins Prizes in Three Categories at ADFEST 2019 . Mandom Corporation Japan . April 22, 2019 . November 10, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211110062815/https://www.mandom.co.jp/en/release/pdf/2019042201_en.pdf . live .
  19. Web site: The Story - Tadaima. January 9, 2019. tadaimathemovie.com. December 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211201115752/http://tadaimathemovie.com/about/. live.
  20. Web site: 劇場版 仮面ライダードライブ サプライズ・フューチャー. February 19, 2021. eiga.com. December 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211201115751/https://eiga.com/movie/81790/. live.
  21. Web site: Take a Chance (2015). January 9, 2019. Filmaffinity. December 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211201115749/https://www.filmaffinity.com/en/film713980.html. live.
  22. Web site: Mackenyu. laughy.jp Retrieved 2016-6-16 (Google translation)
  23. Web site: ちはやふる 下の句. January 10, 2021. eiga.com. December 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211201115757/https://eiga.com/movie/82380/. live.
  24. Web site: 新田真剣佑 作品一覧. January 9, 2019. eiga.com. December 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211201115756/https://eiga.com/person/285253/movie/. live.
  25. Web site: 広瀬すず「チア☆ダン」に中条あやみや真剣佑出演、アメリカロケ敢行. January 10, 2021. Natalie. December 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211201115749/https://natalie.mu/eiga/news/190761. live.
  26. Web site: http://natalie.mu/eiga/news/203390. ja:山崎賢人、「ジョジョの奇妙な冒険」記者会見で山田孝之の髪型イジりにキレられず. 2016-09-28. natalie. Japanese. September 28, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160928164545/http://natalie.mu/eiga/news/203390. live.
  27. Web site: ちはやふる 結び. July 25, 2021. eiga.com. December 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211201115751/https://eiga.com/movie/86988/. live.
  28. Web site: OVER DRIVE. January 10, 2021. eiga.com. December 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211201115754/https://eiga.com/movie/87479/. live.
  29. Web site: 二ノ国. June 11, 2019. eiga.com. November 27, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201127085609/https://eiga.com/movie/90768/. live.
  30. Web site: 「カイジ」藤原竜也主演で9年ぶり映画化、福本伸行による完全オリジナルストーリー. May 31, 2019. Natalie. June 12, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190612223001/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/333535. live.
  31. Web site: Our 30-Minute Sessions. February 5, 2020. Asmik Ace. October 29, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201029081948/https://www.asmik-ace.co.jp/lineup/5343. live.
  32. Web site: 新田真剣佑「とんかつDJアゲ太郎」に友情出演、北村匠海や伊藤健太郎と4年ぶり集結. October 3, 2020. Natalie. December 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211201115748/https://natalie.mu/eiga/news/402591. live.
  33. Web site: 「群青戦記」新田真剣佑で実写映画化!高校生アスリートが戦国時代にタイムスリップ. February 5, 2020. Natalie. December 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211201115754/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/357118. live.
  34. Web site: EXILE岩田剛典&新田真剣佑、初共演でバディに「名も無き世界のエンドロール」映画化. June 16, 2020. Modelpress. December 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211201115752/https://mdpr.jp/cinema/detail/2106024. live.
  35. Web site: 新田真剣佑が「るろうに剣心」で縁を演じる、大友啓史「眼差しの強さに惹かれた」. February 13, 2020. Natalie. December 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211201115752/https://natalie.mu/eiga/news/366917. live.
  36. Web site: 実写『鋼の錬金術師』完結編が二部作で公開決定!新田真剣佑、内野聖陽、舘ひろしも新たに参加. May 2, 2022. Cinematoday. March 4, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220304004638/https://www.cinematoday.jp/news/N0128896. live.
  37. Web site: Kit . Borys . 2021-09-21 . Mackenyu, Madison Iseman, Sean Bean, Famke Janssen to Star in Live-Action 'Knights of the Zodiac' Adaptation (Exclusive) . 2021-09-22 . . en-US . September 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210922005543/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/saint-seiya-sean-bean-famke-janssen-knights-zodiac-live-action-exclusive-1235017474/ . live .
  38. Web site: 夢を与える. December 11, 2021. The Television. December 11, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211211060024/https://thetv.jp/program/0000862398/. live.
  39. Web site: サクラ咲く . TCエンタテインメント . December 11, 2021 . December 11, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211211195738/https://www.tc-ent.co.jp//products/detail/TCED-3245 . live .
  40. Web site: 明日もきっと君に恋をする . Socket Co., Ltd . December 11, 2021 . December 11, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211211193706/https://soket.jp/work/asukoi/ . live .
  41. Web site: 仰げば尊し . modelpress . ja . Net Native . 3 Jun 2016 . December 11, 2021 . December 11, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211211160205/https://mdpr.jp/news/detail/1589076 . live .
  42. Web site: Reileen . 2017-07-09 . Upcoming Summer JDramas 2017 . 2021-04-14 . ARAMA! JAPAN . en-US . April 14, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210414160747/https://aramajapan.com/news/tvmovie/dramas/upcoming-summer-jdramas-2017/78112/ . live .
  43. Web site: 「トドメの接吻」新田真剣佑インタビュー"最難関"な役に向き合う 山崎賢人にキュンとした現場での姿とは?. January 10, 2021. Model Press. December 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211201115751/https://mdpr.jp/interview/detail/1743124. live.
  44. Web site: 高良健吾×新田真剣佑、『二つの祖国』初共演対談 「考えるきっかけになれば」. January 10, 2021. Oricon. December 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211201115749/https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2132079/full/. live.
  45. Web site: 同期のサクラ|日本テレビ . 日本テレビ放送網株式会社 . 日本テレビ . ja . 2020-02-09 . November 12, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201112024438/https://www.ntv.co.jp/sakura2019/ . live .
  46. Web site: jadefrost . 2020-07-25 . NTV Drama Special 2020 ~ Remote de Korosareru . 2021-04-14 . Jdrama Weblog . en . April 14, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210414160743/https://jdramas.wordpress.com/2020/07/26/ntv-drama-special-2020-remote-de-korosareru/ . live .
  47. Web site: Ichikei's Crow - The Criminal Court Judges . 2021-04-14 . FUJI TELEVISION NETWORK, INC. . en-US . April 13, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210413081442/https://www.fujitv.com/drama/ichikeis_crow/ . live .
  48. Web site: Netflix's One Piece Live-Action Cast Revealed . 2021-11-09 . comicbook. . en-US . November 9, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211109222601/https://comicbook.com/anime/news/one-piece-netflix-live-action-cast/ . live .
  49. Web site: Asians on Film Festival 2015: Award Winners . February 18, 2021 . Asians on Film . March 31, 2015 . November 10, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211110162508/http://www.asiansonfilm.com/asians-on-film-festival-2015-award-winners/ . live .
  50. Web site: 報知映画賞ノミネート歴代受賞結果まとめ. February 18, 2021. Pick Scene. February 26, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200226123847/https://pixiin.com/award-hochi-eigashou-all/. live.
  51. Web site: 報知映画賞は今年も激戦…「万引き家族」「犬猿」最多8ノミネート . February 17, 2021 . Sports Hochi . November 11, 2018 . December 1, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211201115750/https://hochi.news/articles/20181110-OHT1T50277.html . live .
  52. Web site: 真剣佑「日本アカデミー賞」新人俳優賞受賞にコメント. February 17, 2021. Model Press. December 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211201115748/https://mdpr.jp/cinema/detail/1655910. live.
  53. Web site: 心に迫る一本 日本映画大賞・日本映画優秀賞候補作. February 17, 2021. Mainichi Shimbun. April 19, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200419232536/https://mainichi.jp/articles/20161216/dde/010/200/040000c. dead.