Emerging
Jun 18, 2026 Major2
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Actor Kimura Takuya's 'Kimtaku Effect' Drives Merchandise Shortages and Resales
Actor Kimura Takuya's appearances wearing casual and designer clothing on television programmes have triggered merchandise shortages and resale frenzies, with items including a 1,900 yen Workman fleece jacket and a 26,400 yen WTAPS sweater becoming instant sellouts. His continued fashion influence, dubbed the "Kimtaku Effect," demonstrates his significant impact on consumer behaviour across price points.
Quick Facts
Who
Kimura Takuya (actor)
What
Wore Workman 'Diamond Fleece Reverse Aluminium Jacket' on variety show
When
November 2025 (Akiyama Loco no Chizu appearance)
Where
Sunshine Stables horse ranch, Sanbu District, Chiba Prefecture, Japan
- Wore Workman 'Diamond Fleece Reverse Aluminium Jacket' on variety show
- Jacket sold out and appeared on resale platforms at 10x original price
- Wore WTAPS 'WOUND / SWEATER / POLY' sweater on variety special
- WTAPS sweater sold out on e-commerce sites after appearance
- Wore Pendleton vintage check shirt purchased at second-hand shop
Actor Kimura Takuya has once again demonstrated his considerable influence over fashion trends in Japan, with items he wears on television programmes becoming instant sellouts and commanding prices many times their original retail value. In November 2025, Kimura appeared on the variety show "Akiyama Loco no Chizu" (TV Tokyo) and wore a Workman fleece jacket borrowed at a horse ranch in Chiba Prefecture for warmth during a nine-hour outdoor shoot. The jacket, a 2024 model of Workman's "Diamond Fleece Reverse Aluminium Jacket," was priced at just 1,900 yen—yet after Kimura posted photos on Instagram, the item sold out and subsequently appeared on resale platforms for ten times its original price.
Fans flooded social media with reactions to the affordable garment's transformation when worn by the 50-something actor. Comments ranged from "suddenly I want this" to "it looks like a 1 million yen designer piece when Kimura wears it." The same month, Kimura wore a black sweater by high-end brand WTAPS (priced at 26,400 yen) on the special variety programme "Ultra Taxi" (TBS), featuring a subtle embroidered motif on the front and back. Viewers quickly identified the garment and rushed to purchase it, with some reporting the item had already sold out on e-commerce sites by the time they attempted to buy it.
The phenomenon, colloquially known as the "Kimtaku Effect," extends beyond recent appearances. In April 2026, Kimura shared an Instagram post wearing a vintage red and grey check shirt by American heritage brand Pendleton, which he had purchased at a second-hand shop in Kichijoji during a prior televised shopping segment. His fashion choices continue to be closely monitored by fans who attempt to replicate his looks or acquire the exact items he wears, underscoring his enduring cultural impact as an entertainer and style influencer despite being in his fifth decade.
Why This Matters
The 'Kimtaku Effect' illustrates how celebrity influence operates in modern retail, with real economic consequences: affordable garments appreciate tenfold on resale markets, supply chains experience immediate strain, and consumer behavior shifts instantaneously across price tiers. For retailers, e-commerce platforms, and brand strategists, this pattern reveals both vulnerability (inventory shortages) and opportunity (viral marketing potential). For consumers, it underscores the premium consumers willingly pay for celebrity-endorsed items, often regardless of intrinsic value.