Toco, a Japanese man shrouded in mystery, has invested an exorbitant two million yen (roughly $15,000) to purchase a strikingly realistic border collie costume. His ambition of “becoming an animal” is something he’s been dreaming about for years. Despite his immense longing to embrace this new identity and share it with those closest to him -friends included – he worries that their unfavorable reaction will lead them to reject him for leading a double life as an animal.
To everyone’s surprise, Toco has unveiled a YouTube channel that now boasts over eleven thousand adoring subscribers, instantly making him a sought-after content creator. Since getting his hands on the realistic dog costume, he’s been taken out for countless strolls along his quiet street as well as running around in circles in his backyard – all while being dressed up!
In one of his YouTube videos, Toco showed off some amazing tricks he can do in exchange for imitation dog food. Despite boasting a huge online following, the Japanese man admitted to the Mirror that he still struggles with telling his friends about being a pet.
“I rarely tell my friends because I am afraid that they will think I am weird,” he stated. “My friends and family seemed very surprised to learn I became an animal.”
Regardless, Toco cherishes “doing things that only dogs do.”
Since last September, Toco has been having a blast as a border collie. His first outdoor stroll was an exciting yet daunting experience for him; he stated in one of his YouTube videos that he felt both “nervous and a little scared” about it. But despite these apprehensions, the canine enthusiast ventured outside to savor the fresh air as any good pup would!
“I’m wearing a leash because people are surprised when they see me. I’m very nervous,” he said. “Do you remember your dreams from when you are little? You want to be a hero or a wizard. I remember writing in my grade school graduation book that I wanted to be a dog and walk outside.”
Toco relished the outside walk, saying that the wind felt heavenly in his shaggy coat and that he indulged himself by rolling playfully around in the backyard grass like a canine. He also noted how wearing sandals shielded his costume’s bottom from getting soiled.
“You inspire us to fulfill our dreams too,” one person wrote on social media.
Another fan said: “I hope I become the animal I want to be as well. You’re an inspiration to us.”
Zeppet, a Japanese costume-making company that primarily creates costumes for television commercials and movies, crafted the incredible border collie dog costume. It required an astounding forty days of labor to bring it to life!
According to a representative from Zeppet, “Modelled after a collie dog, it reproduces the appearance of a real dog walking on four legs.”
