The Takeshi Kaneshiro Effect: Visiting the Yilan Literature Museum Will Soon Be Limited to Just 3 Minutes

▲ Since becoming the filming location for Takeshi Kaneshiro’s ad, the Yilan Literature Museum has attracted large numbers of visitors coming to pay homage. (Photo / Mi’er)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

The charm of the “Asian heartthrob” is irresistible. Not long after Takeshi Kaneshiro’s 4G commercial for a telecom provider officially aired, the Yilan Literature Museum — the main filming location — has been flooded with large crowds of fans every day. As a result, the museum has been packed no matter when visitors go, forcing the venue, which previously had no limits on visitor numbers or visiting time, to announce that starting immediately, entry will be limited and visits restricted to just 3 minutes.

“The faster the world moves, the slower my heart,” the deep, magnetic voice slowly delivers the ad’s tagline. Dressed in vintage attire, Takeshi Kaneshiro in a traditional Japanese building gazes out the window lost in thought one moment, then bows his head to sip carefully brewed tea the next. His elegant figure and movements have once again captivated fans with the allure of the Asian heartthrob.

With the ad’s exposure, long lines of fans have begun forming outside the Yilan Literature Museum, all eager to mimic Takeshi Kaneshiro’s every move and take photos with scenes featured in the video. This has left the museum — which only has 8 or 9 tables — constantly full. Therefore, the museum has announced that while operating hours remain unchanged, visiting times will be limited to two slots: 9–10 AM and 4–5 PM. When visitor numbers are too high, only 2 or 4 people will be allowed in at a time, and each visit will be restricted to just 3 minutes. Entry will no longer be permitted once the museum reaches capacity. Following in the footsteps of the Brangdag Trail, Takeshi Kaneshiro’s unbeatable charm is set to spark another wave of tourism in Yilan.

 % The video clip is from the 4G commercial featuring Takeshi Kaneshiro. Video sourced from YouTube. Apologies if it has been removed.