Netflix’s ‘One Piece’ has finally been released. Contrary to the original manga fan’s concerns, on the very first day of its release, ‘One Piece’ immediately secured the top 1 or 2 positions in most countries, making it the number 1 global hit on Netflix. Reviews about the series itself often mention that it’s “less awkward than expected” and “surprisingly entertaining.”
Reflecting this success, Rotten Tomatoes gives ‘One Piece’ a score of 84% and an audience score of 91%, completely opposite to the expectations of a “flop.” The direct involvement of the original creator of ‘One Piece’, Eiichiro Oda, might be a significant factor in this.
Moreover, ‘One Piece’ has brought considerable attention to an actor, Mackenyu Arata, who portrays the swordsman Zoro. Mackenyu Arata is a renowned action actor in Japan and is known as the son of Sonny Chiba, a martial arts legend.
After debuting as an actor in Japan in 2014, he became a popular star ranking high in various surveys thanks to his handsome appearance and excellent acting skills. A large portion of his filmography consists of live-action adaptations of manga.
Mackenyu Arata has garnered a massive fanbase and even made it to the top 4 of Japan’s “National Treasure-Level Heartthrob” list in a magazine. He shared the news of his marriage on his fan cafe on January 22nd and expressed his determination to excel as both an actor and a husband.
On the same day, another announcement of marriage was made by Mackenyu Arata’s younger brother, Gordon Maeda. Gordon also posted on his fan cafe, “I’m getting married. I may be inexperienced, but I’ll do my best.”
Both brothers are active as actors and models, and their partners are non-celebrities. What’s more, both actors’ spouses are expecting, making them soon-to-be fathers within this year.
Mackenyu Arata has seized the opportunity to rise as a global star through ‘One Piece.’ He’s focusing on international activities and has even terminated his contract with a Japanese agency.