29-7-2023 (TOKYO) A Japanese man who fulfilled his lifelong dream of “becoming an animal” by spending more than $20,000 to transform into a dog has made his public debut, delighting passers-by and making new canine friends.
Known only as Toco, the man invested two million Yen (approximately A$22,000) to acquire a hyperrealistic border collie costume, allowing him to live out his fantasy of embodying a dog.
With nearly 30,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel, ‘I want to be an animal,’ Toco has been sharing updates on his transformation journey. Previous videos showcased him playing in his backyard on all fours and performing tricks in exchange for treats.
In his recent public outing, Toco was seen on a leash, exploring a park, sniffing other dogs, and even rolling around on the ground. The surreal sight caught the attention of onlookers and fellow canines, who appeared curious about the costumed collie. Unclear whether they recognized Toco as a human beneath the disguise, their responses added to the whimsical nature of the encounter.
Subtitles at the start of the video read, “I became a collie, fulfilling a dream I had since I was a little child to be an animal!”
Toco, through written notes translated from Japanese, introduced himself on his YouTube channel and expressed his desire to take video requests from viewers. He chooses not to speak in the videos to fully immerse himself in the canine persona.
Explaining the reason for hiding his human identity, Toco stated, “I don’t want my hobbies to be known, especially by the people I work with. They think it’s weird that I want to be a dog. For the same reason why I can’t show my real face.”
While some of Toco’s friends and family were taken aback by his transformation, he rarely shares his passion with them to avoid potential judgment and misunderstanding.
In a previous clip of his initial outdoor walk, Toco expressed feelings of nervousness and excitement, comparing the experience to childhood dreams of becoming a hero or a wizard.
