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Icon-driveThis article is about an actor in Kamen Rider Drive.

Mackenyu Maeda (前田 真剣佑, Maeda Makkenyū), currently known under the stage name Mackenyu Arata (新田 真剣佑, Arata Makkenyū), or otherwise mononymously as Mackenyu (真剣佑, Makkenyū), is a Japanese-American actor and model who portrayed Eiji Tomari in Kamen Rider Drive: Surprise Future.

Biography[]

Mackenyu was born in the Los Angeles area to famous actor Sonny Chiba. As a child, he learned karate and won competitions in middle school. He also played the piano, and joined his high school brass band. In high school, he began to pursue acting after seeing late actor Haruma Miura, whom Mackenyu would later co-star with in Gunjō Senki before Miura's death.

In 2013, Mackenyu made his full debut into acting and landed roles in films and television dramas. His fame would take off upon landing the role of Eiji Tomari in Kamen Rider Drive: Surprise Future. By 2015, Mackenyu had starred in two films in the United States, with one role winning him an award for Best Supporting Actor. In 2016, he would star in two live-action film adaptations of the manga series Chihayafuru, and a third installment in 2018. In 2018, he starred in Pacific Rim: Uprising. In 2021, he starred as Enishi Yukishiro, the main antagonist of the film Rurouni Kenshin: The Final. In 2022, he starred as Scar in Fullmetal Alchemist: Revenge of Scar.[1]

In 2021, Mackenyu left Top Coat and suspended all activities in Japan for the time being, citing an intent to expand his career globally. His first most notable role in this arrangement would be Pegasus Seiya in the live-action Knights of the Zodiac film, which released in May 2023.[2] Mackenyu has also starred in other recent shows such as Dragons of Wonderhatch and House of the Owl.[3]

Mackenyu also portrayed Roronoa Zoro in Netflix's live action One Piece[4], which a first season was released on August 31, 2023.[5] Mackenyu is set to return for a second season.[6]

Personal Life[]

  • His father is the late Sonny Chiba, who had passed away on August 19, 2021 from complications of COVID-19.[7]. Chiba was the pioneer of martial arts in Japanese film and established Japan Action Enterprise, the agency where many of the suit actors of Toei's tokusatsu franchises are employed.
  • His uncle is Jiro Chiba, who had portrayed Kazuya Taki in the original Kamen Rider series. Mackenyu's other family include his younger brother Gordon and older half-sister from Sonny Chiba's previous marriage, Juri Manase, Both are also actors.
  • In 2016, Mackenyu starred as Arata Wataya in the live-action film adaptation of the manga series Chihayafuru. Taking inspiration from his character, he changed his stage surname to Arata with the blessing of Yuki Suetsugu, the artist of the original manga.
  • Mackenyu is fluent in both English and Japanese. English was his first language, and he learned Japanese from speaking it at home.
  • On January 22, 2023, Mackenyu and his brother Gordon both announced their marriages to their respective non-celebrity partners. The announcement was intentionally made on Chiba's birthday to honor their father's memory.[8] According to Mackenyu, Chiba had met their partners during his lifetime and was enthusiastic about their eventual marriages.[9]

Filmography[]

External Links[]

References[]

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