Rurouni Kenshin the Final Shooting Report: Enishi Opening Fight Scene

 

 

Two years ago, on December 2018, was the filming of Rurouni Kenshin: The Final, the introduction scene of Enishi, Kenshin's most powerful enemy, portrayed by Mackenyu Arata. Set in an old station in Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto, the shooting included 170 extras.

During filming, Mackenyu performed dangerous stunts on his own, including running above the train and leaping above the platform. 

Director Otomo Keishi commented, "Watching him go, you can tell his incredible potential. He is very focused, and he is capable of releasing instantaneous power when needed, his explosive power is amazing. He's still young (22 during filming), and he has this foreign sensibility distinctive from Japanese. Moreover, Enishi is a very difficult role to portray. He has a particular strong manga-like nuance that is essential to be portrayed in his live-action counterpart, such as how we should design his costume. Macken focuses on portraying Enishi’s emotions realistically, and with that approach he played a very human Enishi."

Producer Hiroyoshi Koiwai also commented, "As you watch him, you can clearly see how athletic he is. He met with me and the director one year prior to filming, we saw that he has this similar presence to Enishi that is distinctive than most Japanese. Knowing that he is a hard-working actor, with an incredible physical ability, we decided to cast him right away. Furthermore, it’s not difficult for him to build his body for Enishi. He had grown twice bigger for the filming since the last time we met. Rising young Japanese actors like him are very busy, and I think it’s amazing how he could still consistently do the de Niro approach [T/N: the harsh and thorough role-making method popularized by Robert de Niro, in which he transform his physical appearance for a role]. It is such an excellent attitude.”

"Like how Takeru Satoh became a renowned star after Rurouni Kenshin, I want to introduce Mackenyu Arata to the world in this sensational role, though he had done many great works already. Mackenyu is amazing! I want people to witness his terrifying existence," said Ohtomo Keishi.