Mackenyu

Japanese actor (born 1996)

This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous.
Find sources: "Mackenyu" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (January 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

In this Japanese name, the surname is  Maeda.

Mackenyu

真剣佑

Mackenyu in 2023

Born|

Mackenyu Maeda (前田 真剣佑)

(1996-11-16) November 16, 1996 (age 28)

Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Other names| Mackenyu Arata
Mackenyu Chiba
J.J. MacKenyu
Occupation| Actor
Years active| 2005–present
Agent| Asian Cinema Entertainment
Children| 1
Father| Sonny Chiba[1][2]
Relatives| Juri Manase (half-sister)[1][2]
Gordon Maeda (brother)[1][2]
Website| www.mackenfamily.jp

Mackenyu Maeda (前田 真剣佑, Maeda Makken'yū; born November 16, 1996), known professionally as Mackenyu Arata[3] (Japanese: 新田 真剣佑, Hepburn: Arata Makken'yū) or simply Mackenyu (真剣佑, Makken'yū), is a Japanese actor. He 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.[4] He has since portrayed characters in many other adaptations of popular manga series, including Okuyasu Nijimura in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable Chapter I (2017), Sōta in Tokyo Ghoul S (2019), Yukishiro Enishi in Rurouni Kenshin: The Final (2021), Pegasus Seiya in Knights of the Zodiac, and Roronoa Zoro in the Netflix series One Piece (both 2023).

Mackenyu is the son of actor and martial artist Sonny Chiba, the older brother of actor Gordon Maeda, and the younger half-brother of actress Juri Manase.[1][5][2]

## Early life

[edit]

Mackenyu Maeda, known as Mackenyu Arata, was born on November 16, 1996, in Los Angeles.[6][7] He is the son of Japanese parents, Tamami Chiba and Japanese action movie star Sonny Chiba, and has two siblings, an older half-sister named Juri Manase (his father's daughter from a previous marriage) and a younger brother named Gordon.[1][2] 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.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10]

## Career

[edit]

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[11]

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.[12] 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.[13] 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 Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018).[14] 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.[15]

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.[16]

In March 2022, he was cast as Scar in the live-action sequel of Fullmetal Alchemist.[17]

## Personal life

[edit]

Mackenyu married a non-celebrity woman seven years his senior, whose name was not disclosed.[18] The marriage was announced along with his younger brother's marriage in January 22, 2023.[19] In August 24 of the same year, it was reported by media outlets that Mackenyu's wife had given birth to their first child in Honolulu, Hawaii, in late July 2023.[20][18]

## Brand endorsements

[edit]

In 2018, Mackenyu became the brand ambassador for Japanese men's grooming brand GATSBY.[21] He starred in the TV commercial "GATSBY Cop", together with popular Japanese actor Yuya Yagira.[22]

## Filmography

[edit]

### Film

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes  | Ref(s)

|
|
|
|

2015  | Tadaima | George  |  | [23]
Kamen Rider Drive: Surprise Future | Eiji Tomari  |  | [24]
Take a Chance | Masa  | Lead role  | [25]
2016  | Chihayafuru Part 1 | Arata Wataya  |  | [26]
Chihayafuru Part 2 | Arata Wataya  |  | [27]
Night's Tightrope | Hikaru Makise  |  | [28]
Bittersweet | Atsushi Babazono  |  | [28]
2017  | Let's Go, Jets! | Kōsuke Yamashita  |  | [29]
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable Chapter I | Okuyasu Nijimura |  | [30]
Peach Girl | Kazuya "Tōji" Tōjigamori  |  | [28]
2018  | Pacific Rim: Uprising | Cadet Ryoichi  |  | [28]
Chihayafuru Part 3 | Arata Wataya  |  | [31]
Over Drive | Naozumi Hiyama  | Lead role  | [32]
Impossibility Defense | Asao Momose  |  | [28]
Code Blue: The Movie | Akio Kishida  |  | [28]
2019  | 12 Suicidal Teens | Shinjirō  | Lead role  | [28]
Tokyo Ghoul S | Sōta  |  | [28]
NiNoKuni | Haru (voice)  |  | [33]
2020  | Kaiji: Final Game | Minato Hirose  |  | [34]
Our 30-Minute Sessions | Aki Miyata  | Lead role  | [35]
Tonkatsu DJ Agetarō | Guest of VIP room  | Cameo  | [36]
2021  | Brave: Gunjō Senki | Aoi Nishino  | Lead role  | [37]
The Master Plan | Makoto  | Lead role  | [38]
Rurouni Kenshin: The Final | Yukishiro Enishi |  | [39]
2022  | Fullmetal Alchemist: The Revenge of Scar | Scar |  | [40]
Fullmetal Alchemist: The Final Alchemy | Scar  |  | [40]
2023  | Knights of the Zodiac | Pegasus Seiya | Lead role  | [41]

### Television

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes  | Ref(s)

|
|
|
|

2015  | Yume wo Ataeru | Masaaki  | Miniseries  | [42]
2016  | Sakurasaku | Ippei  | Lead role; miniseries  | [43]
Tomorrow, I'll Surely Love You Again | Shouta  | Lead role; miniseries  | [44]
Brass Dreams | Ren Kitora  |  | [45]
2017  | Fugitive Boys | Ichihashi Tetsuto  |  | [46]
2018  | Kiss that Kills | Takauji Namiki  |  | [47]
2019  | Two Homelands | Yu Amada  | Miniseries  | [48]
Our Dearest Sakura | Aoi Kijima  |  | [49]
2020  | Murdered Remotely | Nomura Yusaku  | Lead role; special  | [50]
2021  | The End of the Tiny World: Half A Year Later | Makoto  | Lead role  | [38]
Ichikei's Crow: The Criminal Court Judges | Bunta Ishikura  |  | [51]
2023–present  | One Piece | Roronoa Zoro | Lead role  | [52]
2025  | The 19th Medical Chart | Kojiro Togo  |  | [53]

### Video games

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes  | Ref(s)

|
|
|
|

2025  | Assassin's Creed Shadows | Gennojo (voice)  | Also likeness  | [54]

## Awards

[edit]

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, nominee(s) of the award, award category, and the result of the nomination  Award ceremony  | Year  | Nominee/work  | Category  | Result  | Ref(s)

|
|
|
|
|

Asians On Film Festival  | 2015  | Tadaima | Best Supporting Actor  | Won  | [55]
Hochi Film Award | 2016  | Chihayafuru | Best New Artist  | Nominated  | [56]
2018  | Overdrive | Best Supporting Actor  | Nominated  | [57]
Japan Academy Film Prize | 2017 | Chihayafuru | Newcomer of the Year  | Won  | [58]
Mainichi Film Awards | 2017  | Best New Actor  | Nominated  | [59]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e Neate, Casey (September 2, 2021). "Sonny Chiba: Martial arts master and icon of Japanese cinema". The Independent. Retrieved 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. ^ a b c d e Gilbey, Ryan (August 24, 2021). "Sonny Chiba obituary". The Guardian. Archived from the original on August 24, 2021. Retrieved 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."
3. ^ "新田真剣佑 TOP COAT". TOP COAT (retrieved by Wayback Machine). Archived from the original on November 7, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
4. ^ "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". 映画ナタリー (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
5. ^ "A Sonny Chiba interview: Acting, martial arts and family - Meniscus Magazine". Meniscus Magazine. August 3, 2014. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
6. ^ 千葉真一 (September 20, 2010) [2010-09-20]. "アメリカに移住して再婚、長男と次男が誕生". 千葉流 サムライへの道. Vol. （第6章 生活の中に武士道をいかに活かすか） (初版 ed.). ぶんか社. pp. 225–233\. ISBN 978-4821142699.
7. ^ 千葉真一. "57歳から第二の子育てスタート!". 千葉真一 改め 和千永倫道. Vol. （第四章 子供たちよ……!） (初版 ed.). 山と渓谷社. p. 120\. ISBN 4635340228.
8. ^ "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". 映画.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on May 1, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
9. ^ "2015 Season". Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
10. ^ "真剣佑｢自分も2世だとは思ってない｣". Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
11. ^ "Mackenyu Putra Sonny Chiba Akan Bermain Sebagai Kamen Rider Dark Drive". Itokumag.com Retrieved 2016-6-16 (Google translation)
12. ^ "Asians on Film Festival (2015)". IMDb.
13. ^ "Hirose Suzu Stars in "Chihayafuru" Live Action Movie - Japanese Entertainment News". aramajapan.com. June 26, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
14. ^ "Mackenyu joins Pacific Rim 2!". ARAMA! JAPAN. October 28, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
15. ^ "Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin 'Final Chapter' Films Cast Mackenyu as Enishi". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
16. ^ Otterson, Joe (November 9, 2021). "'One Piece' Netflix Live-Action Series Sets Main Cast". Variety. Archived from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
17. ^ "Fullmetal Alchemist Anime's Leads Narrate Live-Action Sequel Films' Special Trailer". ANN. Archived from the original on March 2, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
18. ^ a b "新田真剣佑 目撃した休日のイクメン奮闘姿！ベビーカーを押し、木の枝で子供をあやす場面も" [Mackenyu Arata spotted working hard as a father on his day off! He was seen pushing a stroller and soothing his child with a tree branch.]. 女性自身 (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 13, 2024. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
19. ^ "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". NEWSポストセブン (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 22, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
20. ^ "新田真剣佑 父・千葉真一さん三回忌直前にハワイで第一子誕生 弟・眞栄田郷敦とは結婚も出産も同時期" [Mackenyu Arata's wife gives birth to his first child in Hawaii just before the third anniversary of his father Shinichi Chiba's death. He had married and have children with his younger brother Gordon Maeda at the same time.]. NEWSポストセブン (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 5, 2024. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
21. ^ "GATSBY's Campaign Video & CM Wins Prizes in Three Categories at ADFEST 2019" (PDF). Mandom Corporation Japan. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
22. ^ "柳楽優弥と新田真剣佑「GATSBY COP」で初共演、イメージキャラクター就任". Natalie (in Japanese). August 21, 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
23. ^ "The Story -- Tadaima". tadaimathemovie.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
24. ^ "劇場版 仮面ライダードライブ サプライズ・フューチャー". eiga.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
25. ^ "Take a Chance (2015)". Filmaffinity. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
26. ^ "Mackenyu". laughy.jp Retrieved 2016-6-16 (Google translation)
27. ^ "ちはやふる 下の句". eiga.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
28. ^ a b c d e f g h "新田真剣佑 作品一覧". eiga.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
29. ^ "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". Natalie. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
30. ^ 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 (in Japanese). natalie. Archived from the original on September 28, 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
31. ^ "ちはやふる 結び". eiga.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
32. ^ "OVER DRIVE". eiga.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
33. ^ "二ノ国". eiga.com. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
34. ^ "「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". Natalie. Archived from the original on June 12, 2019. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
35. ^ "Our 30-Minute Sessions". Asmik Ace. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
36. ^ "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". Natalie. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
37. ^ "「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". Natalie. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
38. ^ a b "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". Modelpress. June 15, 2020. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
39. ^ "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」". Natalie. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
40. ^ a b "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". Cinematoday. March 2022. Archived from the original on March 4, 2022. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
41. ^ Kit, Borys (September 21, 2021). "Mackenyu, Madison Iseman, Sean Bean, Famke Janssen to Star in Live-Action 'Knights of the Zodiac' Adaptation (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 22, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
42. ^ "夢を与える". The Television. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
43. ^ "サクラ咲く". TCエンタテインメント. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
44. ^ "明日もきっと君に恋をする". Socket Co., Ltd. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
45. ^ "仰げば尊し". modelpress (in Japanese). Net Native. June 3, 2016. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
46. ^ Reileen (July 9, 2017). "Upcoming Summer JDramas 2017". ARAMA! JAPAN. Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
47. ^ "「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？". Model Press. January 26, 2018. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
48. ^ "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」". Oricon. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
49. ^ 日本テレビ放送網株式会社. "同期のサクラ｜日本テレビ". 日本テレビ (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
50. ^ "リモート会話中に事件発生「リモートで殺される」に前田敦子、齋藤飛鳥ら（コメントあり）" ["Incident occurs during remote conversation: Maeda Atsuko, Asuka Saito, and others are "Murdered Remotely"]. Natalie (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 18, 2025. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
51. ^ "Ichikei's Crow - The Criminal Court Judges". FUJI TELEVISION NETWORK, INC. Archived from the original on April 13, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
52. ^ "Netflix's One Piece Live-Action Cast Revealed". comicbook. November 9, 2021. Archived from the original on November 9, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
53. ^ "松本潤『19番目のカルテ』新キャスト3人発表 新田真剣佑が「初めて医師役に挑戦」". Oricon (in Japanese). June 12, 2025. Archived from the original on June 11, 2025. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
54. ^ "Netflix's 'One Piece' Star Mackenyu Joins 'Assassin's Creed Shadows' Voice Cast (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. February 5, 2025. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
55. ^ "Asians on Film Festival 2015: Award Winners". Asians on Film. March 31, 2015. Archived from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
56. ^ "報知映画賞ノミネート歴代受賞結果まとめ". Pick Scene. Archived from the original on February 26, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
57. ^ "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". Sports Hochi. November 11, 2018. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
58. ^ "真剣佑「日本アカデミー賞」新人俳優賞受賞にコメント". Model Press. January 9, 2017. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
59. ^ "心に迫る一本 日本映画大賞・日本映画優秀賞候補作". Mainichi Shimbun. Archived from the original on April 19, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2021.

## External links

[edit]

* TOP COAT profile (in Japanese)
* Mackenyu at IMDb

Authority control databases

National|

* Spain

Artists|

* MusicBrainz

People|

* Deutsche Synchronkartei

*[Ref(s)]: Reference(s)