Japanese actor Mackenyu Arata of Netflix’s One Piece is heading to the Philippines to grace the upcoming Manila Pop Culture Convention (ManiPopCon) which will be held from November 17 to 19 at Ayala Manila Bay.
Chief Geek Officer Marco Aventajado shared the good news during the press conference of the highly-anticipated pop culture event.
Mackenyu gained popularity as he brought the character of Roronoa Zoro to life in Netflix’s live adaptation of the hit manga series, One Piece.
On the other hand, in a video posted by ManiPopCon, Mackenyu expressed his excitement to meet his Filipino fans.
“I’m happy to share that I’ll be appearing at ManiPopCon in Manila from November 17 to 19. See you guys there,” said Mackenyu.
With a portfolio that includes Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure and Tokyo Ghoul, the One Piece star is expected to take geeks on a thrilling journey through his experiences playing iconic characters.
Aventajado also revealed that fans would be able to personally interact with Mackenyu while getting a photograph or an autograph at a designated location.
Alongside Mackenyu, other international guests such as Usagi Yojimbo creator Stan Sakai will also be attending the convention. Stan is also going to talk about his plans for the upcoming 40th anniversary of Usagi Yojimbo.
This year’s ManiPopCon also marks its comeback following its debut in 2019. As it finally returns, the event promises an electrifying lineup of events that will bring together multiple generations of Filipino geeks, all converging during this golden age of geeks.
“ManiPopCon is not just another convention; it’s the only one in the Philippines that brings together different geekdoms under one banner. Whether you’re into movies, TV shows, cartoons, esports, or tabletop games, we’ve got it all covered. We’re here to make your geekiest dreams come true,” Aventajado said.
Five different areas will immerse attendees in the wonders of pop culture: ManiPopCon MainStage; Laro: The Philippine Games Convention; Concourse de Geek; Artist Alley; and Cinema Classics.
For more updates and to know how to get tickets to ManiPopCon 2023, geeks can go to their Facebook page.