Must-watch TV shows with Mackenyu, from ‘One Piece’ to ‘Chihayafuru’

This continuation of the Chihayafuru franchise sees Mackenyu reprise his role as Arata Wataya, a prodigious karuta player whose talent and dedication shaped the original storyline. Set a decade after the earlier live-action films, Chihayafuru: Full Circle explores the next generation of competitive karuta players while revisiting the personal and professional growth of returning characters. Karuta is a traditional Japanese card game that combines memory, reflexes, and deep knowledge of classical poetry, and the series highlights the intensity and strategy required at the highest level of competition.

Mackenyu’s portrayal focuses on Arata’s quiet determination and mentorship to younger players, showing how his character has matured while remaining central to the series’ emotional core. Unlike the earlier films, this television adaptation allows for expanded storylines and character arcs over multiple episodes, blending personal drama with the cultural and competitive aspects of the game. It is among the TV shows with Mackenyu that connects his work to a well-established literary and anime property, demonstrating both continuity and evolution in his performance.

Known in English as The 19th Medical Chart, this 2025 television drama stars Mackenyu as Kojiro Togo, a young surgeon working in a hospital department that handles complex or atypical cases not covered by conventional medical specialties. The series explores both the technical challenges of diagnosing and treating rare conditions and the interpersonal dynamics among doctors, nurses, and patients. Mackenyu’s character navigates the pressures of medical responsibility while balancing ethical dilemmas and teamwork, highlighting his ability to portray professional competence alongside emotional nuance. Broadcast in a prime Sunday slot on TBS, the series combines procedural storytelling with character-driven drama, offering a detailed look at hospital operations and patient care. This role represents one of the TV shows with Mackenyu where he engages with realistic, workplace-based narratives, expanding his range beyond action or adaptation-driven projects.

What a Trip is a travel and adventure reality series in which Mackenyu appears as himself alongside other Asian entertainers, including Chen Bolin and Taisei Kusano. The first season follows a group of celebrities as they embark on a multi‑stage treasure hunt in locations such as Rotorua, New Zealand, facing puzzle challenges, endurance tests and cultural exploration tasks. Episodes feature activities ranging from forest exploration and cooking tasks to extreme outdoor challenges and local interactions, with Mackenyu’s participation spread across multiple instalments. Unlike his scripted roles in drama and adaptation projects, this programme places him in scenarios driven by unscripted group dynamics and competitive elements, marking one of the more unconventional entries among TV shows with Mackenyu.

In House of the Owl, Mackenyu plays Ryu Ogami, the younger son of Ryutaro Ogami, a powerful “fixer” who manipulates political, business and media scandals behind the scenes. The drama centres on Ryutaro’s efforts to maintain influence at the highest levels of Japanese society while also confronting deepening conflicts within his own family, including the ideological differences between him and Ryu. Ryu has a different worldview from his father and seeks to address issues with his own sense of justice, adding tension to the family dynamic. The series unfolds over ten episodes and blends political intrigue with personal drama as characters navigate scandals, shifting loyalties and ethical dilemmas in modern Japan. 

Dragons of Wonderhatch, released on Disney+, is a hybrid series combining live-action and animation, with Mackenyu appearing as Akuta, a young dragon tamer navigating a fantastical world where dragons coexist with humans. The series follows Akuta and a group of allies as they undertake missions to protect their communities, confront rival dragon clans, and uncover secrets about the origins of dragonkind. Episodes blend action sequences, character-driven storytelling, and fantastical world-building, emphasising both the challenges of interspecies collaboration and the coming-of-age growth of its young protagonists. The production spanned late 2023 into early 2024, with weekly releases that gradually expanded the narrative across multiple story arcs. 

Ichikei no Karasu: The Criminal Court Judges is a Japanese courtroom drama that centres on the daily work and ethical challenges of judges handling criminal cases in Japan’s legal system. Mackenyu portrays Bunta Ishikura, a young and ambitious judge navigating complex trials, legal precedents, and the moral dilemmas inherent in the judicial process. The series follows both high-profile criminal cases and the personal dynamics within the court, exploring how judges balance the demands of the law with human factors such as remorse, motive, and societal impact. As one of Mackenyu’s earlier television roles, this series demonstrates his engagement with procedural storytelling and character-driven drama, distinct from his work in adaptations or genre-focused projects. 

NOW READ

‘One Piece’ season 2 cast and character guide: straw hats, marines and villains explained

A guide to TV shows with Bai Lu, from palace politics to fantasy worlds

10 must-watch TV shows with Choo Young Woo before the release of ‘Love Doctor’