'One Piece' star Mackenyu Arata coming to Manila in November
Attention, One Piece fans! The well-loved Mackenyu Arata is coming to the Philippines this year.
In a video shared on ManiPopCon's official Facebook page on Tuesday, Sept. 26, the breakout star, who plays the role of Roronoa Zoro in the live-action adaptation of One Piece, announced that he will be headlining the Manila Pop Culture Convention 2023.
"To all my Filipino fans out there, I'm happy to share that I'll be appearing at the ManiPopCon in Manila from the 17th to the 19th," he said.
The event—which celebrates pop culture through epic geek activities, tournaments, merchandise, cosplays, and meet-and-greet sessions with different stars—will take place from Nov. 17 to 19 at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay.
Mackenyu shines as a skillful swordsman in One Piece. In an interview with Timid Magazine, Mackenyu revealed his approach to balancing the expectations of viewers who are already familiar with the source material with the need to create a fresh and unique interpretation of his character.
"When I do live-action stuff, I always keep in mind that—I'm a fan of a lot of manga and anime, but when it comes to live-action, it's a completely different thing. You have to look at it differently. For me, film, anime, and manga, I just separate them," he said.
"So if you liked the manga, if you liked the anime, stick with it. If you want to try a new adventure, feel free to come watch my movies and shows," the actor continued.
Prior to One Piece, Mackenyu also starred in Knights Of The Zodiac where he played the role of the main protagonist, Pegasus Seiya, an orphan who realizes that he's destined to protect the reincarnation of the goddess Athena and aid her in the battle to save humanity.
He also starred in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure in 2017, Rurouni Kenshin: The Final in 2021, and Fullmetal Alchemist in 2022.