2023 has been a pivotal point in Mackenyu’s acting career. After playing multiple side roles in Japanese films, the 26-year-old obtained lead roles in live-action anime adaptations. He has now gained a footing in Hollywood and the future looks bright for the star.
Known for his part in Knights of the Zodiac and One Piece Live-Action, Mackenyu has over 10 years of experience as a performing artist. He has thus learned to cope with the hectic schedules associated with the industry. His ability to adapt to the most extreme situations has garnered him praise from fellow stars.
Mackenyu Was Accustomed To Sleep on The Floor As Revealed By A Co-Star
Takanori Iwata, who worked with Mackenyu in the 2021 film The Master Plan, revealed in an interview that he once found him ‘sleeping on the floor.’ The discovery was made on the set of the movie during the lunch break for the production crew.
Iwata found it amazing that the fellow actor could sleep on the hard floor soundlessly. In reply, Mackenyu claimed that he could sleep anywhere and he ‘mastered the art’ after not being able to find enough time for resting due to his hectic acting schedule.
“Since I started working as an actor, I don’t have much sleeping hour. So I mastered the art of being able to sleep anywhere… I adapted to the situation.”
It is worth mentioning that Mackenyu Arata is the son of Sadaho Maeda (aka Sonny Chiba) so his ability to tackle challenges and adapt to situations can be related to the legendary martial artist. Chiba passed away in 2021 due to complications arising from the Covid-19 Delta variant.
Interestingly, Mackenyu’s ability to sleep anywhere can be attributed to the character that he plays in Netflix’s One Piece. Fans of the show may remember how Roronoa Zoro can doze off even in the most extreme weather conditions and ‘adapt’ to the situation.
Also Read: Unexpected Connection One Piece’s Mackenyu Has with Bruce Lee Might Surprise Fans
The Pandemic Gave Mackenyu A Much Needed Break From His Hectic Acting Schedule
Mackenyu has always been on the move in his acting career. He would either be filming a movie, a drama series or attending interviews, making almost no time for sleep. The Covid pandemic gave him a much-needed break from the intense workload and schedule as revealed during a GQ Japan interview, transcribed by philazora on Tumblr.
“Since my teenage years, my work schedule has always been packed, so I didn’t really have time to reflect on myself. I would be filming a movie in the morning and a drama series in the afternoon. At the same time, I would also attend interviews for publicity. I was living a life where I could only sleep on the move.”
“During the pandemic, I spent time with my family and friends, and also with myself. As I engage in my hobbies, I realized that I enjoy this kind of time, and I think its important to have them.”
During the same interview, the 26-year-old revealed that he was anxious about taking a break from his work. He felt that he would ‘disappear’ or become irrelevant if he stopped his hustle. This affected most of his decisions relating to the acting industry although it is nice to see him get the recognition that he deserves after years of hard work and dedication.
